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- Fri Apr 15, 2016 9:58 am
#23095
Complete Question Explanation
Method of Reasoning-AP. The correct answer choice is (E)
If Anderson "maintains" that travel writing has diminished in quality, we can expect that the author will argue the opposite. Indeed, the conclusion here is that Anderson is too harsh on contemporary travel writers. The rest of the stimulus explains why that is so:
Premise (1):
Today, the public is better traveled than in the past;
Premise (2)/Sub Conclusion: Writers face a greater challenge than their predecessors;
Conclusion: Travel writing has not diminished in quality (i.e. Anderson is too harsh on contemporary travel writers)
The question stem asks us to examine the role played in the argument by the statement that the general public is better traveled today than in the past. As a premise that supports the subsidiary conclusion in this argument, this statement explains why writers face a challenge greater than their predecessors. In other words, it is the condition that has transformed the task of the travel writer, making it a more challenging one. Answer choice (E) is therefore correct.
Answer choice (A) While in real life good travel writing might indeed facilitate travel, this is not the argument here. According to the author, the fact that the general public is better traveled today than in the past is the cause for the increased challenges faced by writers today, not the effect of their good travel writing. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B) While this statement is indeed evidence for something, it is not meant to illustrate that travel writing is intended for a wider readership. In fact, wider readership is not mentioned anywhere in the stimulus. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (C) This answer choice conflates the author's point of view with that of Anderson. The author does not believe readers are disappointed with today's travel writers; on the contrary, she thinks the genre has flourished thanks to the talent of today's practitioners. Be careful not to conflate two opposing points of view, and remember whose argument you are supposed to describe.
Answer choice (D) First, it is unclear whether travel writing flourishes more today than it has in the past. We only know that it has flourished. Second, the fact that the general public is better traveled today than in the past is not the reason why travel writing has flourished. If anything, travel writing has flourished despite the fact that the public is better traveled, not because of it, which shows the enduring talent of its practitioners. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E) This is the correct answer choice. See explanation above.
Method of Reasoning-AP. The correct answer choice is (E)
If Anderson "maintains" that travel writing has diminished in quality, we can expect that the author will argue the opposite. Indeed, the conclusion here is that Anderson is too harsh on contemporary travel writers. The rest of the stimulus explains why that is so:
Premise (1):
Today, the public is better traveled than in the past;Premise (2)/Sub Conclusion:
Writers face a greater challenge than their predecessors;Conclusion:
Travel writing has not diminished in quality (i.e. Anderson is too harsh on contemporary travel writers)The question stem asks us to examine the role played in the argument by the statement that the general public is better traveled today than in the past. As a premise that supports the subsidiary conclusion in this argument, this statement explains why writers face a challenge greater than their predecessors. In other words, it is the condition that has transformed the task of the travel writer, making it a more challenging one. Answer choice (E) is therefore correct.
Answer choice (A) While in real life good travel writing might indeed facilitate travel, this is not the argument here. According to the author, the fact that the general public is better traveled today than in the past is the cause for the increased challenges faced by writers today, not the effect of their good travel writing. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B) While this statement is indeed evidence for something, it is not meant to illustrate that travel writing is intended for a wider readership. In fact, wider readership is not mentioned anywhere in the stimulus. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (C) This answer choice conflates the author's point of view with that of Anderson. The author does not believe readers are disappointed with today's travel writers; on the contrary, she thinks the genre has flourished thanks to the talent of today's practitioners. Be careful not to conflate two opposing points of view, and remember whose argument you are supposed to describe.
Answer choice (D) First, it is unclear whether travel writing flourishes more today than it has in the past. We only know that it has flourished. Second, the fact that the general public is better traveled today than in the past is not the reason why travel writing has flourished. If anything, travel writing has flourished despite the fact that the public is better traveled, not because of it, which shows the enduring talent of its practitioners. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E) This is the correct answer choice. See explanation above.