Logical Reasoning

PT149 · S3 · Q9 As regards memory, the brain reponds

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As regards memory, the brain responds best to repeated patterns, such as the melodic and rhythmic patterns of music.

Given That ...

Music aids memory and that Jokes, like music, elicit an emotional response

Why is it That ...

Jokes are usually very difficult to remember.

Evaluate

When we're doing Fill in the Blank (aka Logical Completion), we check to see whether the word prefacing the blank is expecting a Conclusion or a Supporting claim.

The blank is prefaced by SINCE, and since/because always indicate supporting claims. That means this could be Strengthen or Paradox, depending on whether we're supporting a Conclusion or a Surprising Idea, respectively.

Because the previous claim begins with HOWEVER, we know we're supporting some Surprising Idea.

Goal

We need a distinction between music and jokes that will allow us to explain how even though music/jokes are similar on one level, there's a reason why music aids memory and jokes don't.

9.

Which one of the following most logically completes the passage?

  1. jokes, unlike music, always have

    Unclear Impact

    This answer might seem good at first because it describes a difference between jokes and music. And "content that is verbal or at least clearly symbolic" might seem similar to "strings of information or text." But we're told that long strings of information or text can be memorized if they're set to music. Without more information, this answer doesn't help explain why jokes are difficult to remember.

    2% picked this

  2. some successful jokes are short

    Opposite (if anything)

    If anything, it seems like short pithy jokes might be easy to remember. But knowing that "some successful jokes" are short and pithy while "others" aren't neither supports nor weakens the claim that jokes are usually difficult to remember.

    1% picked this

  3. Correct

    jokes work not by conforming

    Why this is right

    The statements we're given explain that repeated patterns help us remember things. If jokes work by breaking patterns, that would likely make them more difficult to remember.

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

    92% picked this

  4. for most people, certain memories

    Opposite (if anything)

    We're told that jokes normally elicit an emotional response. This answer makes a connection between emotional responses and memories. If anything, a correct answer would weaken the link between emotional responses and memory.

    0% picked this

  5. people can hold in short-term

    Unclear Impact

    We were already told that long strings of information can be impossible to memorize if they aren't connected to a repeated pattern like ones found in music. This just seems add a bit more detail to that statement. But without being told how this answer connects to emotional responses or jokes, it's not clear how this supports the claim that jokes are are usually difficult to remember.

    4% picked this

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