PT153 S2 Q20 ExplanationSome literary theorists argue that

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Wrong Conclusion2% picked this

   It is presented as evidence for the conclusion that it is naive to view literary works as embodying a distinct aesthetic value

   It is evidence, but the conclusion is the final sentence, prefaced by "Therefore". The conclusion isn't "it is naïve to view literary works in way X", it's "the theorists are guilty of viewing literary works in way X".

   2%
2. B

   Wrong Role11% picked this

   It is presented as evidence against the claim that it is naive to view literary works as embodying a distinct aesthetic value

   This feels close to the "evidence that the theorists are not smart" prephrase we had. But the author isn't actually rejecting the literary theorists' idea; she's just kind of teasing them that they're doing the thing they supposedly hate. You can call someone a hypocrite about doing X; that doesn't actually indicate you think that X is wrong. Someone might say, "You say that we should always believe the accuser. But you're not believing the accuser that came forward with allegations against your preferred candidate." Pointing out that hypocrisy doesn't mean that I think "it's wrong to believe the accuser".

   11%
3. C

   Not a Conclusion3% picked this

   It is a conclusion for which the claim that it is naive to maintain that literary works embody a distinct aesthetic value to a

   Four words in, we're done with this one. This is our Premise. The Conclusion is the last claim, prefaced by "Therefore".

   3%
4. D

   Correct83% picked this

   It is presented as evidence for the conclusion that the literary theorists succumb to the view

   Why this is right

   This is surprisingly straightforward. This was our Premise, and they're correctly capturing the conclusion in the last sentence, almost verbatim. Given that what came before the "But" are claims that belong to the literary theorists, and that the last sentence is prefaced by "Therefore" (so the conclusion), by process of elimination we can tell that the second to last sentence is the premise.

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

   83%
5. E

   Wrong Role2% picked this

   It is presented as evidence against the claim that literary works are

   Just like (B), this goes too far in thinking that our author actually disagreed with either of the two literary theorists' claims. Our author is just observing with a wry smirk that the theorists are doing the thing they warn against. She doesn't comment on whether or not their views are right or wrong.

   2%