The brain area that enables

Answer choices

1. A

   Part vs. Whole5% picked this

   The argument presumes, without providing justification, that what is true about the brain structures of highly skilled pianists is also true of the brain

   The evidence discusses an area of the brain that enables one to distinguish the different sounds made by a piano. It states that this area tends to be larger in highly skilled musicians. The argument never mentions highly skilled pianists. It doesn't use evidence specifically about pianists to support a conclusion about other highly skilled musicians.

   5%
2. B

   Correct83% picked this

   The argument fails to address the possibility that people who become highly skilled musicians do so, in part, because of the size of

   Why this is right

   This answer choice suggests that there might be a causal relationship between a certain area of the brain and being a highly skilled musician, but the relationship is the opposite of the one proposed by the argument's conclusion.

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

   83%
3. C

   Sampling8% picked this

   The argument draws a conclusion about a broad range of phenomena from evidence concerning a much

   This can be an appealing answer at first glance, because the conclusion is written in very general language. But the evidence is about the size of a certain brain area in highly skilled musicians, and there is no indication that the conclusion is about a broader range of phenomena. The conclusion isn't necessarily about people other than highly skilled musicians. And the "brain structure" mentioned in the conclusion might be the same area of the brain discussed in the evidence.

   8%
4. D

   Opposite (if anything)2% picked this

   The argument fails to address the possibility that a certain area of the brain is smaller in people who have listened to a lot

   If an argument "fails to address" a possibility, that possibility, whatever it is, should weaken the argument. Assuming that this answer choice is even talking about the same area of the brain as the argument, if this area is smaller in people who have never learned to play a musical instrument compared to people who have, that could potentially strengthen the argument. This still wouldn't prove a causal relationship, but it's more evidence supporting the idea that there is some relationship between playing music and the size of this area of the brain, and it's not just a coincidence.

   2%
5. E

   Irrelevant Comparison2% picked this

   The argument presumes, without providing justification, that highly skilled musicians practice more

   The evidence compares highly skilled musicians to people who rarely, if ever, play a musical instrument. There isn't any comparison between highly skilled musicians and other musicians. The argument isn't assuming anything about a difference in the amount of practice done by these two different groups of musicians.

   2%