PT152 S1 Q12 ExplanationA study found that most of the strokes

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Out of Scope: other health problems0% picked this

   patients who have strokes typically also have other

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

   0%
2. B

   Correct72% picked this

   it is very likely that just as many strokes occur in the right side of the brain as

   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%
3. C

   Wishy-Washy2% picked this

   doctors vary greatly in the accuracy of their diagnoses

   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.

   2%
4. D

   Too Weak22% picked this

   the symptoms of right-side strokes tend to be different than the symptoms

   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.

   22%
5. E

   No Impact4% picked this

   other studies have suggested that a large number of minor strokes

   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%