The dean of computing must

Answer choices

1. A

   Too Strong: people (vs. deans)2% picked this

   Academics respect only people who hold

   The passage established that the only DEANS that academics respect are those who hold a doctoral degree but that doesn't mean the only PEOPLE they respect are those with doctorates.

   2%
2. B

   Too Strong: all7% picked this

   All of this university’s professors have obtained

   The argument has to assume that at least some professors in the computer science department have doctoral degrees, but not that all the professors at the university do.

   7%
3. C

   Too Strong: Every14% picked this

   At this university, every professor who holds a doctoral degree in computer science really

   The argument definitely has to assume that SOME professors who hold doctoral degrees, and who work in the computer science department, really know about computers. But she doesn't have to assume that they ALL know. She is claiming that the only eligible people for the dean of computing are in the CS department, not that everyone in the CS department is eligible to be dean of computing.

   14%
4. D

   Negation2% picked this

   All academics who hold doctoral degrees are respected by their

   We were told, "if a dean doesn't have a doctoral degree, then they won't be respected by academics." This is illegally negating that into "if a person does have a doctoral degree, then they will be respected by academics." This negation is a much stronger idea. The author was never saying that everyone with doctorates is respected, merely that having a doctorate is required to be respected. (i.e. "everyone without a doctorate isn't respected)

   2%
5. E

   Correct76% picked this

   Among this university’s staff members with doctoral degrees, only those in the computer science department

   Why this is right

   Since the author thinks that our search for the dean (which requires that one be a staff member, have a doctoral degree, and really know about computers) forces us to go to the Computer Science department. "it must be a professor from the CS department" implies that you could only find this magic combo there. If we negated this answer, it would be saying, "There are university staff members outside of the computer science department who have doctoral degrees and really know about computers", which would basically ruin the conclusion. The new dean doesn't HAVE to be from the CS department if there are people outside the CS department who meet the requirements.

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

   76%