Q1 - Sometimes it is advisable

[ohthatpatrick]

Question Type:
ID the Conclusion ("which … most accurately states the conclusion")

Stimulus Breakdown:
Conclusion: Seeking a second opinion can be awkward for the patient and physicians.
Evidence: The patient worries the 1st doc will feel alienated. The 1st doc feels slightly insulted, since seeking a 2nd opinion highlights the 1st doc's fallibility. And then 2nd doc has to not only evaluate the patient but also evaluate a colleague's work.

Answer Anticipation:
We just need something that reiterates the conclusion, "seeking a 2nd opinion can be awkward for patient and physicians"

Correct Answer:
C

Answer Choice Analysis:
(A) This was never said.

(B) Premise.

(C) Conclusion!

(D) Premise.

(E) Premise.

Takeaway/Pattern: On ID the Conclusion questions, you should expect 98% of the time that you'll see the Conclusion come BEFORE you see the Evidence. The two most common places to find the Conclusion on this type of question are
1. The first sentence
and
2. Attached to some "but/yet/however" rebuttal.

#officialexplanation

[ssfriend.88]

I actually am pretty sure I understand this question, but as my final review before the big exam tomorrow I'm working through a whole exam, untimed and detailing my whole thought process to see if I notice any fine tuning. So here we go:

A - Nowhere is it stated that patients should not seek second opinions. Unsupported.
B - I don't really like the word "necessary" as it wasn't suggested that any second opinions are required, but regardless this is a claim and not a main point.
C - Ah, here we go, this nails the second sentence of the argument, which was the conclusion that everything else was building around. Bingo!
D - Again, I'm not a fan of the strong wording with "always" but regardless this isn't a main point.
E - It may seem reasonable to assume that the first physician would be offended by the second opinion given the context, tone, and a little rephrasing, but still not the main point.

[bbirdwell]

Hope the exam went well!

The only thing I would add (which you probably did in your head when you took the test) is the analysis of the argument BEFORE you got to the choices.

In other words, you identified the conclusion first: "this process can be awkward." And (C) is the only choice that matches!

[tara_amber1]

The thought process stated above is great! But to move a little faster on main point/conclusion questions, it's best to think outside the stimulus as bbirdwell suggests. Being weary of first and last sentences (they are often not the main point) and identifying each sentence definitely helps you move through the answer choices more quickly.

A method that has been working for me is a quick question on every sentence: "Does this support another sentence in the stimulus, or is this supported by something else or the whole argument?" The former, would be a premise or subsidiary conclusion. The latter will most often be the conclusion. You'll sometimes get some background information too.

With this in mind, I spotted the first sentence of the stimulus and the first part of the 2nd sentence "but this process can be awkward" as potential conclusions. Now for the answer choices.

A) This question almost makes it, but "unless it's absolutely necessary" kicks it out.

B) This refers to one of two premises that both support the conclusion, and doesn't encompass the main idea.

D) This commits the same error as did (B), but with the other premise.

E) There's no issue of offending anyone, although alienated can be taken to mean this in a way. Also, this answer choice also only refers to one of the premises.

B) This is the correct answer and it fits because it's simple, yet encompasses the main idea and the two potential conclusions I suspected in the beginning.