The ends of modern centuries have been

Answer choices

1. A

   Weak Support6% picked this

   It is logically impossible for both reactions to be correct at

   This definitely doesn't have the same sentiment of [the turn of the century is just any other random day on an arbitrary calendar]. This claim would support a conclusion saying, "It's not surprising that some of these reactions have consistently proven to be wrong." Both sides can't be simultaneously right if it's logically impossible for them to both be correct. But the author's actual conclusion isn't "I can see why they can't both be right", it's "I can see why they are both wrong".

   6%
2. B

   No Impact10% picked this

   What is a utopian fantasy to one group of people may well be, for another group of people, a

   This answer actually makes it possible that both the apocalypse and the utopia people could simultaneously have their reaction to the end of the century validated. It's not giving us a reason why "BOTH groups are likely to be disappointed when the turn of the century doesn't bring about utopia / apocalypse."

   10%
3. C

   Correct72% picked this

   The number system based on the number ten, in the absence of which one hundred years would not have the appearance of being a

   Why this is right

   This has the same sentiment of [the turn of the century is just any other random day on an arbitrary calendar]. After all, the base 10 number system is an arbitrary one. If we went base 12 like the Egyptians, then we might find every 144th year a special year.

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

   72%
4. D

   Different Logical Force8% picked this

   The firm expectation that something extraordinary is about to happen can make people behave in a manner that makes it less likely

   It seems like this answer actually does strengthen, but in a different way. This answer is saying, "you guys don't end up getting the utopia / apocalypse that you're expecting, because when you're so convinced it's coming you actually spoil it from happening." The original argument was saying, "you guys don't end up getting the utopia / apocalypse that you're expecting, because the calendar we happen to go off of is totally arbitrary, so the year 1900 or 2000 in some made up numerical count doesn't represent some special moment in history."

   8%
5. E

   Different Logical Force4% picked this

   Since a century far exceeds the normal human life span, people do not live long enough to learn from mistakes that they

   Like (D), this does help strengthen, but not in a similar way to the original premise. This answer is saying, "you guys don't end up getting the utopia / apocalypse that you're expecting, because this disappointment happens at the end of every century, but those people don't live long enough to warn the suckers at the end of the next century." And the original premise (and correct answer) are saying, "You don't get the crazy transformation you're expecting because the calendar we use is a totally arbitrary way of keeping track of time, so there's nothing inherently special about the turn of a century".

   4%