Although Damon had ample time earlier

Answer choices

1. A

   Bad Conclusion / Premise Match9% picked this

   providing evidence that one event will occur in order to establish that an alternative

   Is the author's conclusion saying "an alternative event cannot occur"? No, it's saying "someone will have to choose between one of two things". Yes, that implies that the choice to do the other thing won't occur, but that is way too big a stretch of language. So we could eliminate simply from the conclusion mismatch. Was there a premise saying that one event will occur? No. The premises were about how Damon wouldn't be able to see his daughter if he spends the required time to complete his presentation. The author didn't know which way Damon would go, so there certainly wasn't a premise that one event will occur.

   9%
2. B

   No Analogy2% picked this

   showing that two situations are similar in order to justify the claim that someone with certain responsibilities in the first situation has

   There was no analogy presented (although that's the most common type of correct answer on Method). There were just two events, both of which Damon was obliged to do, at least one of which he was gonna mess up.

   2%
3. C

   Opposite1% picked this

   invoking sympathy for someone who finds himself in a dilemma in order to excuse that person’s failure to

   The author never says "Poor Damon" to invoke sympathy; in fact she's like, "Damon, you procrastinating tool. You done messed up again, didn't ya."

   1%
4. D

   Out of Scope: resulted in harm6% picked this

   making clear the extent to which someone’s actions resulted in harm to others in order to support the claim

   There aren't any facts about harm having been caused. We can speculate that if Damon doesn't go to his 7 year old's tap-dancing recital, there will be some harm to others, but maybe Damon goes to the recital, flakes on the presentation, gets fired, and only does harm to himself?

   6%
5. E

   Correct83% picked this

   demonstrating that two situations cannot both occur by showing that something necessary for one of those situations is incompatible with something

   Why this is right

   Does the conclusion say that "two situations cannot both occur"? Sure, if we say "Damon cannot choose to satisfy his professional and his personal responsibilities, tonight". For him to satisfy his professional responsibilities, it would be necessary to work all night. But that is incompatible with satisfying his personal responsibility, which would require him not working and attending his daughter's recital.

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

   83%