Logical Reasoning

PT152 · S1 · Q12 A study found that most of the strokes

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A study found that most of the strokes diagnosed by doctors occurred in the left side of patients’ brains.

Conclusion

Right-side strokes are more likely than left-side strokes to go undiagnosed.

Evidence

In a study, most of the diagnosed strokes were left-side strokes.

Evaluate

Since this conclusion tries to interpret the meaning of a study's findings, we can use our Explain Curious Fact template.

Curious Fact ... why were most of the diagnosed strokes in the left-side of the brain?

Author's Explanation ... Left-side strokes are easier to diagnose. Right-side strokes are more likely to go undiagnosed.

If we're strengthening an Explain Curious Fact argument, then our answer needs to either: 1. Make the Author's Explanation more plausible 2. Rule out an Alternate Explanation for the curious fact

What could be an alternative way to explain why most of the diagnosed strokes were left-side?

- maybe there were just more strokes on the left-side - maybe the doctors were more motivated for some reason to look for strokes on the left-side

Goal

Look for an answer that either

1. adds plausibility to the idea that right-side strokes are more likely than left-side to go undiagnosed or 2. rules out a different way to explain why most of the diagnosed strokes were on the left-side

12.

The conclusion of the argument is strongly supported if which one of the following completes the passage?

  1. patients who have strokes typically

    Out of Scope: other health problems

    Other health problems won't tell us anything about likelihood of diagnosing a left-side vs. right-side stroke.

    0% picked this

  2. Correct

    it is very likely that

    Why this is right

    This answer rules out an alternative reason for why most of the diagnosed strokes were on the left-side. If people tended to 2 or 3 times as many strokes on the left-side of their brain, then naturally we would see that most diagnosed strokes are on the left-side. This answer rules out that alternative explanation, so it strengthens. Since there an equal number of strokes on left / right side, the fact that most of the diagnosed strokes are on the left-side makes it seem like the left-side ones are easier / more likely to be diagnosed.

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

    72% picked this

  3. doctors vary greatly in the

    Wishy-Washy

    This is a recurring wrong answer style in Strengthen / Weaken: things fluctuate things vary there's some up and down things are different (yes, but how — higher or lower?) If anything, this author wants to assume that the doctors were accurate in diagnosing so many left-brain strokes. That helps support his conclusion that the right-ones are harder to find. If doctors were just saying "Left-side stroke" a bunch and often being inaccurate with it, that would be an alternate explanation for the curious fact and thus would weaken his argument.

    1% picked this

  4. the symptoms of right-side strokes

    Too Weak

    This strengthens a bit, because if the symptoms of right-side and left-side were identical, then it would be far-fetched for the author to conclude that "right-side strokes are harder to diagnose". But beyond ruling out that objection, it doesn't get specific enough for us to know the effect. "Different" symptoms might mean that right-side strokes are easier to spot or harder to spot. Since this answer doesn't tell us in which direction of ease-of-diagnosis this difference tilts, we don't know the impact of this answer.

    23% picked this

  5. other studies have suggested that

    No Impact

    This doesn't differentiate at all between left-side and right-side strokes, so it can't help inform us on the issue we're analyzing.

    4% picked this

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