Logical Reasoning

PT130 · S3 · Q17 A group of mountain climbers

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A group of mountain climbers was studied to determine how they were affected by diminished oxygen in the air at high altitudes.

Evidence

A group of mountain climbers was studied to determine how they were affected by diminished oxygen in the air at high altitudes.

As they climbed past 6,100 meters above sea level, the climbers slurred words, took longer to understand simple sentences, and demonstrated poor judgment.

Conclusion

This combination of worsened performances disproves the theory that the area of the brain controlling speech is distinct from that controlling other functions.

Evaluate

This could be a reasonable explanation of the study's results. However, alternative explanations also exist and represent potential criticisms of the argument. One possible alternative is that many areas of the brain were affected by the diminished oxygen in the air and so the various things controlled by these areas of the brain would all perform worse—as was witnessed in the study.

17.

The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it overlooks the possibility that

  1. Correct

    the climbers' performance in speech,

    Why this is right

    This provides an alternative explanation for why all three performance areas would be affected at the same time.

    Skill tested: Flaw · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    83% picked this

  2. the climbers' performance in speech,

    Irrelevant Comparison

    How these climbers compare to others is not relevant. The relevant comparison is the change in performance during the climb.

    1% picked this

  3. the climbers showed different levels

    Irrelevant Comparison

    How these climbers compare each other is not relevant. The relevant comparison is the change in performance during the climb.

    10% picked this

  4. some of the effects described

    Too Weak

    This answer doesn't separate the onset of the affected speech, comprehension, and reasoning.

    3% picked this

  5. many of the climbers had

    Irrelevant Comparison

    How the climbers performed relative to what their performance would have been without special training is not relevant to the argument. The relevant comparison is the change in performance during the climb.

    2% picked this

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