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- Wed May 10, 2017 1:04 pm
#34687
Complete Question Explanation
Method of Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (C)
Here, the psychologist begins by using the “some people say...” rhetorical device, by which the author introduces an opposing viewpoint and then immediately concludes that it is incorrect. In this case, the view is that held by “some,” who argue that the difficulty and time-consuming nature of Freudian psychotherapy provide evidence for the conclusion that it is the most effective kind of therapy.
The psychologist disagrees with this view, as predicted, and argues against it by means of an analogy. Pointing to the example of a car-repair chain, the psychologist says that no one would accept the large amount of work done on the cars serviced by the shop, and the long amount of time the cars remain in the shop, as evidence that the shop has the most effective technique for repairing cars. The implication of this example is that the difficulty and time-consuming nature of Freudian psychotherapy should not be taken as evidence that it is the most effective kind of therapy.
This is a Method of Reasoning question. Our prephrase is that the correct answer choice will describe how the psychologist argues by analogy.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice is incorrect because it describes the use of a principle, or rule, to contradict the argument about Freudian psychotherapy. However, the psychologist did not present a rule as evidence, but rather referred to a similar situation.
Answer choice (B): Here, the answer choice is wrong because the psychologist did not question the premise that Freudian psychotherapy is difficult and time consuming.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice because it properly describes the psychologist’s use of an analogy, as discussed in our prephrase.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice is tricky, because it refers to an analogy. However, the argument with which the psychologist disagrees is not based on a false analogy, and the psychologist did not claim that it was based on an analogy of any kind.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice refers to a mistaken use of causal reasoning. However, the underlying argument was conditional in nature (i.e., if the therapy is difficult and time consuming then it is more effective) rather than causal, and the psychologist did not make any reference to causal reasoning.
Method of Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (C)
Here, the psychologist begins by using the “some people say...” rhetorical device, by which the author introduces an opposing viewpoint and then immediately concludes that it is incorrect. In this case, the view is that held by “some,” who argue that the difficulty and time-consuming nature of Freudian psychotherapy provide evidence for the conclusion that it is the most effective kind of therapy.
The psychologist disagrees with this view, as predicted, and argues against it by means of an analogy. Pointing to the example of a car-repair chain, the psychologist says that no one would accept the large amount of work done on the cars serviced by the shop, and the long amount of time the cars remain in the shop, as evidence that the shop has the most effective technique for repairing cars. The implication of this example is that the difficulty and time-consuming nature of Freudian psychotherapy should not be taken as evidence that it is the most effective kind of therapy.
This is a Method of Reasoning question. Our prephrase is that the correct answer choice will describe how the psychologist argues by analogy.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice is incorrect because it describes the use of a principle, or rule, to contradict the argument about Freudian psychotherapy. However, the psychologist did not present a rule as evidence, but rather referred to a similar situation.
Answer choice (B): Here, the answer choice is wrong because the psychologist did not question the premise that Freudian psychotherapy is difficult and time consuming.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice because it properly describes the psychologist’s use of an analogy, as discussed in our prephrase.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice is tricky, because it refers to an analogy. However, the argument with which the psychologist disagrees is not based on a false analogy, and the psychologist did not claim that it was based on an analogy of any kind.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice refers to a mistaken use of causal reasoning. However, the underlying argument was conditional in nature (i.e., if the therapy is difficult and time consuming then it is more effective) rather than causal, and the psychologist did not make any reference to causal reasoning.