CR Chap 1 Ques 16

[immaculate02]

Hi,
For the argument structure problem set in Chapter 1 in the CR guide. Ques 16 answer says "No given conclusion".
Why is sentence three (last sentence) not a conclusion? I thought the sentence was concluding that Culinary Tourism was the most popular nice, based on the premise that its current popularity matches that of ecotourism.

Thanks,
Gagan

[StaceyKoprince]

Please be sure to read (and follow!) the forum guidelines. Please type in the text of the argument in question. We wouldn't be able to get through everyone's questions if we had to look everything up - and others can't learn as easily if they can't see the text you're talking about! Thanks :)

[immaculate02]

Apologies...
Here's the question:
"Recent Polls suggest that the largest segment of travelers among the baby boom generation is "life enhancers", or people who travel for enrichment and learning. The number of "life enhancers" is double the number of "sun seekers" or "play-it-safers", travelers who desire a beach vacation or simply a return to a familiar place. Culinary tourism, a full immersion, in the food culture of a locale, is the most popular niche for "life enhancers", as its current popularity matches that of ecotourism two decades ago.

Here's the confusion again:
For the argument structure problem set in Chapter 1 in the CR guide. Ques 16 answer says "No given conclusion".
Why is sentence three (last sentence) not a conclusion? I thought the sentence was concluding that Culinary Tourism was the most popular nice, based on the premise that its current popularity matches that of ecotourism.

Please be sure to read (and follow!) the forum guidelines. Please type in the text of the argument in question. We wouldn't be able to get through everyone's questions if we had to look everything up - and others can't learn as easily if they can't see the text you're talking about! Thanks :)

[RonPurewal]

Apologies...
Here's the question:
"Recent Polls suggest that the largest segment of travelers among the baby boom generation is "life enhancers", or people who travel for enrichment and learning. The number of "life enhancers" is double the number of "sun seekers" or "play-it-safers", travelers who desire a beach vacation or simply a return to a familiar place. Culinary tourism, a full immersion, in the food culture of a locale, is the most popular niche for "life enhancers", as its current popularity matches that of ecotourism two decades ago.

Here's the confusion again:
For the argument structure problem set in Chapter 1 in the CR guide. Ques 16 answer says "No given conclusion".
Why is sentence three (last sentence) not a conclusion? I thought the sentence was concluding that Culinary Tourism was the most popular nice, based on the premise that its current popularity matches that of ecotourism.

well, remember that a conclusion must be just that - a conclusion. in other words, the entire argument must be constructed with the express purpose of substantiating that statement.
while you're right that 'popularity matches that of ecotourism 20 years ago' is presented as evidence for your purported conclusion, the problem is that the other statements in the passage don't help to establish that statement at all. instead, the passage is just presenting a few tiered facts ('tiered' meaning that the passage tells you what 'life enhancers' are, and then, oh, by the way, here's some more detail about what the life enhancers are doing).
because you can't place the premises into some kind of linear argument (this and that, therefore this, hence that), you don't have a conclusion.

make sense?