Office worker: I have two equally

Answer choices

1. A

   No Distinction Between 1st / 2nd4% picked this

   It is better to focus one’s time on a single project than to split one’s

   This helps to strengthen the part of the conclusion that is saying "devote all my time to Y", because it's saying that we should focus on one rather than dividing our time amongst both projects. But this answer doesn't give us any reason to pick devoting all our time to the 2nd project over devoting all our time to the 1st project. This answer would equivalently strengthen the conclusion that "I should devote all my time to the first one".

   4%
2. B

   No Distinction Between 1st / 2nd13% picked this

   It is better to finish one of two projects than to risk failing to

   Similar to (A), this helps to strengthen the part of the conclusion that is saying "devote all my time to Y", because it's saying that it would be better to finish one of them then to try to work on both projects and potentially finish neither. But this answer doesn't give us any reason to pick trying to finish the 2nd project over trying to finish the 1st. This answer applies as much to the 1st project as it does to the 2nd, so it's not strengthening our decision to go all-in on the 2nd project.

   13%
3. C

   Bad Evidence Match1% picked this

   It is better to first finish those projects that must be done than to interrupt them with projects

   This answer could serve our purposes if we knew "the 2nd project must be done, whereas the 1st project is only optional". But we were never told any such thing. In fact, we're told that the 1st and the 2nd are equally important.

   1%
4. D

   Bad Conclusion Match10% picked this

   It is better not to worry about having failed to finish a project on time than to allow such worry to interfere with

   This answer would help us support a conclusion about whether or not "to worry" about having failed a project. The conclusion we're trying to support is about "which project should we devote all our time to".

   10%
5. E

   Correct72% picked this

   It is better to attempt to finish a project on time than to attempt to finish a late project that

   Why this is right

   In order for this rule to be useful, we would need to know these things about the 1st and 2nd projects: 1st 2nd late project eligible to be finished on time doesn't have higher priority We do know those things! The rule is saying that it's better to attempt to finish a project like the 2nd one on time than it is to try finishing a project like the 1st one. To put this into plainer English, think about 2 equally important projects. You've already missed the deadline on the first project. Should you try to finish that one up or work on the 2nd project, where you still have at least a chance of being on time. This is saying, "You might as well try to get at least one of your projects done on time. The other project's already late, and it's not like it's more important than the 2nd one."

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

   72%