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- Sat Jun 03, 2017 12:33 pm
#35670
Complete Question Explanation
Point at Issue. The correct answer choice is (A)
With two speaker stimuli, you are typically asked to identify the Point at Issue or the Point of
Agreement. This is a Point at Issue question, so you must find a position with which one speaker
clearly agrees and the other clearly disagrees. Please note that it is not necessary for both speakers
to explicitly state their position on the issue, but that position must be obviously knowable from the
given statements.
Wong argues that all countries are better off as democracies, while allowing for an occasional
transition though an autocratic stage. Tate also acknowledges that value of democracy, but argues
that some countries are better at meeting fundamental material needs as autocracies. Each speaker
presents a nuanced position with some overlap, but there is a core disagreement about whether
autocracies should ever be more than a means to an end. Wong argues that autocracies should be
nothing that a stage on the path to democracy, while Tate argues that autocracies have some intrinsic
value.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Wong would clearly disagree with this
statement (“all countries are better off as democracies”), while Tate would agree with it (“some
countries can better meet these needs as autocracies”). This is an excellent example of a Point at
Issue statement.
Answer choice (B): Tate clearly disagrees with this statement (“simple material needs are more
important”), but Wong’s position is unknowable. Wong does not elaborate his rationale for claiming
that all countries are better off as democracies, so we cannot determine if he believes anything could
ever be more important than freedom and autonomy.
Answer choice (C): Neither speakers’ position regarding this statement can be known. Wong believes
all countries should be democracies, but we cannot determine if either speaker believes that all
countries can be democracies.
Answer choice (D): It certainly seems plausible that Wong’s advocacy of democracy is based on his
belief that this statement is true, but that cannot be known with certainty. Regardless, it would be
highly unlikely for Wong to disagree with this statement and since Tate clearly agrees with it, this
cannot be the Point at Issue.
Answer choice (E): Neither speakers’ position regarding this statement can be known. Tate argues
that autocracies are sometimes better at meeting these needs than democracies, but this cannot be
construed as a belief that any democracies leave these needs unmet. Further, since Wong’s rationale
for advocating universal democracy is unspoken, we cannot know how he feels about this statement.
Point at Issue. The correct answer choice is (A)
With two speaker stimuli, you are typically asked to identify the Point at Issue or the Point of
Agreement. This is a Point at Issue question, so you must find a position with which one speaker
clearly agrees and the other clearly disagrees. Please note that it is not necessary for both speakers
to explicitly state their position on the issue, but that position must be obviously knowable from the
given statements.
Wong argues that all countries are better off as democracies, while allowing for an occasional
transition though an autocratic stage. Tate also acknowledges that value of democracy, but argues
that some countries are better at meeting fundamental material needs as autocracies. Each speaker
presents a nuanced position with some overlap, but there is a core disagreement about whether
autocracies should ever be more than a means to an end. Wong argues that autocracies should be
nothing that a stage on the path to democracy, while Tate argues that autocracies have some intrinsic
value.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Wong would clearly disagree with this
statement (“all countries are better off as democracies”), while Tate would agree with it (“some
countries can better meet these needs as autocracies”). This is an excellent example of a Point at
Issue statement.
Answer choice (B): Tate clearly disagrees with this statement (“simple material needs are more
important”), but Wong’s position is unknowable. Wong does not elaborate his rationale for claiming
that all countries are better off as democracies, so we cannot determine if he believes anything could
ever be more important than freedom and autonomy.
Answer choice (C): Neither speakers’ position regarding this statement can be known. Wong believes
all countries should be democracies, but we cannot determine if either speaker believes that all
countries can be democracies.
Answer choice (D): It certainly seems plausible that Wong’s advocacy of democracy is based on his
belief that this statement is true, but that cannot be known with certainty. Regardless, it would be
highly unlikely for Wong to disagree with this statement and since Tate clearly agrees with it, this
cannot be the Point at Issue.
Answer choice (E): Neither speakers’ position regarding this statement can be known. Tate argues
that autocracies are sometimes better at meeting these needs than democracies, but this cannot be
construed as a belief that any democracies leave these needs unmet. Further, since Wong’s rationale
for advocating universal democracy is unspoken, we cannot know how he feels about this statement.