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- Fri Apr 15, 2016 1:33 pm
#23121
Complete Question Explanation
Method of Reasoning-AP. The correct answer choice is (B)
The author concludes that the recently detected fracture in Mozart's skull is the best explanation for his death, as such fractures often lead to bleeding in the brain that is ultimately fatal. The evidence of partial healing strengthens this hypothesis by implying that the fracture was not sustained immediately before or after Mozart's death, which would be incompatible with the explanation provided by the author. Answer choice (B) is therefore correct.
Answer choice (A): Partial healing does not entail that Mozart's death could have been avoided. The author's central thesis is that the fracture caused Mozart's death, not that his death was somehow avoidable. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. See explanation above.
Answer choice (C): That dried blood can impair the brain's faculties is an a priori given and requires no additional evidence. It would be illogical to conclude that signs of partial healing can somehow show that dried blood impaired Mozart's faculties. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): On the contrary, partial healing shows that Mozart's death could not have occurred suddenly. If it had, there would be no evidence of any healing. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): While the author acknowledges the likelihood that Mozart's death was accidental (the crack is most likely the result of an accident), it is unclear why the signs of partial healing would be evidence of any accident. This answer choice is incorrect.
Method of Reasoning-AP. The correct answer choice is (B)
The author concludes that the recently detected fracture in Mozart's skull is the best explanation for his death, as such fractures often lead to bleeding in the brain that is ultimately fatal. The evidence of partial healing strengthens this hypothesis by implying that the fracture was not sustained immediately before or after Mozart's death, which would be incompatible with the explanation provided by the author. Answer choice (B) is therefore correct.
Answer choice (A): Partial healing does not entail that Mozart's death could have been avoided. The author's central thesis is that the fracture caused Mozart's death, not that his death was somehow avoidable. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. See explanation above.
Answer choice (C): That dried blood can impair the brain's faculties is an a priori given and requires no additional evidence. It would be illogical to conclude that signs of partial healing can somehow show that dried blood impaired Mozart's faculties. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): On the contrary, partial healing shows that Mozart's death could not have occurred suddenly. If it had, there would be no evidence of any healing. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): While the author acknowledges the likelihood that Mozart's death was accidental (the crack is most likely the result of an accident), it is unclear why the signs of partial healing would be evidence of any accident. This answer choice is incorrect.