Logical Reasoning

PT154 · S4 · Q6 Historian: Much of what made

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Historian: Much of what made medieval European communities as close-knit as they usually were was the way they went about meeting basic needs.

Conclusion (So / probably)

If people in industrialized societies undertook corresponding group tasks, their communities would probably become more close-knit.

Intermediate Conclusion

Much of what made medieval European communities as close-knit as they usually were was the way they went about meeting basic needs.

Evidence

In medieval communities, to get crops harvested or to dig a well, people had to come together in respectful cooperation, despite any private grievances they might have had.

Evaluate

On Main Conclusion and Role, the main conclusion is earlier than the evidence about 85-90% of the time (it's usually the very first sentence or attached to some pivot/rebuttal).

But here we looking at the 10% of the time where the Conclusion is actually the last claim in the paragraph, on a Main Conclusion question. (This tends to only happen on easier Main Conclusion questions early in the LR section, such as Q6 like this one)

We know the word "So" indicates conclusions. The word "probably" often indicates an Opinion. Both of those words show up in the final sentence.

When we think we've found the Conclusion, we should test whether it is actually supported, by asking why should we believe that?

Why should we believe that we modern industrialized societies would probably become more close-knit if we undertook group tasks with the community?

Because ... much of what made Medieval societies close-knit was the group tasks they undertook together (such as harvesting crops or digging a well). It forced them to come together in respectful cooperation, suspending any private grievances.

Goal

Okay, we confirmed that the last sentence is the conclusion. It is wearing a conclusion indicator (So); it is expressing an opinion the author has (probably); and it is supported by the other two claims in the paragraph.

So let's go find an answer that matches the meaning of the final sentence.

6.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion drawn in the historian's argument?

  1. Much of what made medieval

    Unrelated to Goal Intermediate Conclusion

    This doesn't look anything like the last sentence, since it's talking about medieval times, so we don't need to read it. If we did, we'd see it's the first sentence, which could be called an Intermediate Conclusion since it's supported by the second sentence.

    3% picked this

  2. People in industrialized societies today

    Trap

    Should vs. If Bad Match: missing "close-knit" This is pretty similar to the final sentence, but the final sentence has the form, "If today's people undertook group tasks like the ones medieval communities undertook to meet basic needs, then today's people would be more close knit". And this sentence just says, "They should undertake these group tasks". The author wasn't explicitly providing advice, so the "should" feels a little strong, but most importantly this would be missing half of what the conclusion is saying. The conclusion is saying, "If people did X, then Y would happen", and this answer is just saying, "People should do X".

    3% picked this

  3. In medieval communities, people went

    Unrelated to Goal Premise

    This doesn't look anything like the last sentence, since it's talking about medieval times, so we don't need to read it. If we do read it, we'll see it's the second sentence, which was a premise.

    0% picked this

  4. Medieval communities were usually more

    Unrelated to Goal Unstated Inference

    This doesn't look anything like the last sentence, since it's talking about medieval times, so we don't need to read it. If we do read it, we'll see it's actually creating a brand new claim that was never said (making it very unattractive as an answer). It's designed to feel like a correct answer on Inference, but we're doing Main Conclusion.

    3% picked this

  5. Correct

    Communities in industrial societies today

    Why this is right

    This best matches the meaning of the final sentence, which was the conclusion.

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

    91% picked this

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