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- Fri Apr 29, 2016 4:23 pm
#23670
Complete Question Explanation
Weaken—CE. The correct answer choice is (E)
This author discusses the fact that the lab experiment is disappearing from most curricula among secondary schools, who instead opt for computers. The author's conclusion is presented in the middle of the stimulus: "This trend should be stopped." This conclusion is based on a single premise, presented at the end of the stimulus: The practice results in many secondary school students going to university without having experienced a lab experiment. The question stem asks us to weaken the argument, so we should likely be looking for an answer choice that either disproves the referenced result, or proves that such a result is acceptable.
Answer choice (A): The author does not argue against computers, but rather for lab experiments, so this answer choice would not weaken the argument.
Answer choice (B): This possibility is implied by the language chosen by the author, who describes the lab experiment as "disappearing from curricula," in general, so the practices of select secondary schools is not relevant to the author's more general discussion.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice is incorrect for the same reason as answer choice (A) above: the author does not argue against the value of computers, but for the value of lab experiments.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice is incorrect for the similar reason to that of incorrect answer choices (A) and (C) above: the author is not concerned with the ongoing use of computers, but with the dwindling use of lab experiments.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. If this is true, then the author's argument is weakened; the basic premise is the fear of losing this practical lab experience. If science can be taught effectively without such practical experience, then perhaps we shouldn't be overly concerned about the referenced secondary schools' approach.
Weaken—CE. The correct answer choice is (E)
This author discusses the fact that the lab experiment is disappearing from most curricula among secondary schools, who instead opt for computers. The author's conclusion is presented in the middle of the stimulus: "This trend should be stopped." This conclusion is based on a single premise, presented at the end of the stimulus: The practice results in many secondary school students going to university without having experienced a lab experiment. The question stem asks us to weaken the argument, so we should likely be looking for an answer choice that either disproves the referenced result, or proves that such a result is acceptable.
Answer choice (A): The author does not argue against computers, but rather for lab experiments, so this answer choice would not weaken the argument.
Answer choice (B): This possibility is implied by the language chosen by the author, who describes the lab experiment as "disappearing from curricula," in general, so the practices of select secondary schools is not relevant to the author's more general discussion.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice is incorrect for the same reason as answer choice (A) above: the author does not argue against the value of computers, but for the value of lab experiments.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice is incorrect for the similar reason to that of incorrect answer choices (A) and (C) above: the author is not concerned with the ongoing use of computers, but with the dwindling use of lab experiments.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. If this is true, then the author's argument is weakened; the basic premise is the fear of losing this practical lab experience. If science can be taught effectively without such practical experience, then perhaps we shouldn't be overly concerned about the referenced secondary schools' approach.