Powerprep Test 1 -Section 1 Q. 20

[mistandair]

What is the best way to approach these questions? How is one to know what is an "intermediary" conclusion, what's the "further conclusion", what's an "initial" conclusion, what's a "support", etc. etc. Is there a quick/short strategy or something? Furthermore, reading all the answer options seems time-consuming esp. since they are so convoluted. That said, options that have the word "objection" in them can be eliminated right away. I am just wondering how does one decide the 'hierarchy' of conclusions as it were. Is there a quick way or hint for that other than just reading the passage very patiently, and really trying to get it.

"Rain-soaked soil contains less oxygen than does drier soil. The roots of melon plants perform less efficiently under the low-oxygen conditions present in rain-soaked soil. When the efficiency of melon roots is impaired, the roots do not supply sufficient amounts of the proper nutrients for the plants to perform photosynthesis at their usual levels. It follows that melon plants have a lower-than-usual arte of photosynthesis when their roots are in rain-soaked soil. When the photosynthesis of the plants slows, sugar stored in the fruits is drawn off to supply the plants with energy. Therefore, ripe melons harvested after a prolonged period of heavy rain should be less sweet than other ripe melons."

In the argument given, the two highlighted portions play which of the following roles?
A The first states the conclusion of the argument as a whole, the second provides support for that conclusion.
B The first provides support for the conclusion of the argument as a whole, the second provides evidence that supports an objection to that conclusion.
C The first provides support for an intermediate conclusion that supports a further conclusion stated in the argument, the second states that intermediate conclusion.
D The first serves as an intermediate conclusion that supports a further conclusion stated in the argument, the second states the position that the argument as a whole opposes.
E The first states the position that the argument as a whole opposes, the second supports the conclusion of the argument.

For 'fun' and purposes of clarity, I am going to re-state the passage here, sentence by sentence.

Rain-soaked soil contains less oxygen than does drier soil. ---> OK.


The roots of melon plants perform less efficiently under the low-oxygen conditions present in rain-soaked soil.--> SOME kind of Conclusion? (not a premise? Is the 'conclusion' the same thing as a 'claim'?)
When the efficiency of melon roots is impaired, the roots do not supply sufficient amounts of the proper nutrients for the plants to perform photosynthesis at their usual levels.---> Some kind of Support?
It follows that melon plants have a lower-than-usual rate of photosynthesis when their roots are in rain-soaked soil.---> Some kind of conclusion. Does the hint lie in the word "follows"?
When the photosynthesis of the plants slows, sugar stored in the fruits is drawn off to supply the plants with energy.--> Why not a support/evidence?
Therefore, ripe melons harvested after a prolonged period of heavy rain should be less sweet than other ripe melons. ---> Okay, some kind of conclusion, because of "therefore?".

Can A be the answer?

Can, by looking at this question, anyone say what "level" question is this? Easy Medium Hard?

Thanks!

[tommywallach]

I'd say most people would consider this a hard question, including the testmakers. That said, I've always taught "bold" questions as being among the easier question types, because all you're being asked to do is understand the passage (not infer something new, as in a strengthen or weaken question). My recommendation with bolds is always to actually write out what you think each bold is doing, and then do a compare/contrast with the answer choices. Start with just bold #1 and eliminate whichever answers you can, then move onto bold #2 and eliminate the rest of the wrong answers.

That said, I can't say there's any trick other than understanding the passage. Trying to be tricky can actually be a problem. For example, intermediate conclusions are really premises, when you get down to it (because they're being used to support the main conclusion), so the correct answer could name that bold by either name (using the word "conclusion" or the word "support/premise"). That said, if you can see very clearly that neither bold is an objection, absolutely you can do a cull for any answer choices that mention objections.

Hope that helps a bit!

-t