Logical Reasoning

PT5 · S3 · Q17 Being articulate has been equated

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Being articulate has been equated with having a large vocabulary.

Conclusion (thus)

A large vocabulary is a hindrance to using language in a truly articulate way.

Evidence

People with large vocabularies have no incentive for, and tend not to engage in, the kind of creative linguistic self-expression required when no available words seem adequate.

Evaluate

The argument suggests that having a large vocabulary actually hinders articulation because people with extensive vocabularies lack the drive to creatively express themselves when words seem insufficient. The implicit idea is that truly articulate people are those who can creatively communicate despite limitations in vocabulary.

We need to identify what the argument assumes about being truly articulate, the New Concept in the Conclusion.

Goal

Look for an answer that links being truly articulate with the ability to creatively express oneself in situations where vocabulary alone isn’t enough.

17.

Which one of the following is an assumption made in the argument?

  1. Correct

    When people are truly articulate,

    Why this is right

    This directly speaks to the unstated assumption that "if these people with big vocabs aren't learning to be able to express themselves when current vocabulary doesn’t cut it, then they aren't becoming truly articulate." Contraposed, that looks like "If truly articulate, then can express themselves when current vocab doesn't cut it."

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

    69% picked this

  2. People who are able to

    Reversal (if anything)

    The argument was saying "people with big vocabs have little incentive to learn to express themselves creatively". So this flips that claim into "people who can express themselves creatively have little incentive to develop a big vocab". The argument isn't about people who can express themselves creatively, other than the author's assumption that we would potentially think of those people as truly articulate. She doesn't need to assume they have no incentive to acquire a big vocabulary.

    9% picked this

  3. The most articulate people are

    Irrelevant Comparison

    We can tell this is treading into "Relative vs. Absolute" distortion. The argument was about whether someone was / wasn't truly articulate. The argument is never using relative language like the most articulate. The author might think that being truly articulate hinges purely on creative expression when the situation demands it. She doesn't have to think that having a big vocab on top of that elevates your articulation game.

    5% picked this

  4. In educating people to be

    Out of Scope: educating people

    (D) introduces the idea of education, which isn’t explored in the original argument. It could align with the author’s thoughts, but it isn’t requisite to the argument made.

    6% picked this

  5. In unfamiliar situations, even people

    Opposite (if anything)

    The author doesn't have to assume that there are cases where even a large vocab would require creative self-expression since no known words suffice. If anything, that would hurt the author's case, because it would mean that even if you have a large vocab, you're still forced to practice creatively self-expressing yourself when existing words don't suffice. She is telling a story where people with big vocabs don't have to practice that and thus don't develop that skill and thus aren't truly articulate.

    11% picked this

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