Q21 - Wirth: All efforts to identify

[jimmy902o]

why is A wrong here? not only does Chang say that I take issue with your conclusion (that all efforts have failed) he adds that researchers have found that evidence of genes that predispose one to manic depression. thus, Wirth would agree and Change would disagree no? also can someone please help me understand B and D also, thanks

[maryadkins]

Look closely at Wirth's argument compared to (A). Wirth doesn't say there's been no one who's found a set of several genes that could predispose people to MD. He just says there isn't ONE gene.

(B) is wrong because neither person is making a prediction about the future.

(C) is wrong because they agree on this! There isn't a single gene--Chang concedes that.

(D) is the winner. Chang disagrees with Wirth's conclusion.

(E) isn't what they're talking about--how thorough the researchers were. It's irrelevant.

Hope this helps!

[sumukh09]

I was reluctant in choosing D) because the "current research" part threw me off - nothing in either of their arguments suggest that the research done was current. Moreover, I chose A) because Wirth says all efforts have failed whereas Chang says "no, they haven't, the researchers you're talking about have found 'X' so they haven't all failed" which is what I thought was essentially the disagreement between the two. Also, A) says "a gene OR set of several genes" so I didn't think that was really an issue.

[Sweetangel]

I need further help on this one as to why A) is incorrect.

Based on the Agree/Disagree test, I am under the impression that Wirth would agree with the statement, "Efforts to identify A GENE or set of several genes responsible for predisposing people to MD have all failed", whereas Change would disagree that "Efforts to identify... A SET of several genes... Have all failed".

Is this because there has not yet been any conclusive identification that Chang would also agree with Wirth, although evidence exists that may identify these sets in the future?

Thank you

[gaheexlee]

The easy way to eliminate (A) is to remember what Chang said in the beginning: that he does not dispute the evidence but takes issue with the conclusion.

So what is Wirth's evidence and what is his conclusion?

Evidence:
1) All efforts to identify a gene responsible.. have failed.
2) Nearly all researchers now agree... no such gene.

Conclusion: Any claim that there is a genetic predisposition to maniac-depression is false.

You see, (A) is the exact replication of evidence #1. Therefore, you can say that Chang actually agrees with Wirth.

[pdy507]

I know D is the best answer but still don't understand why A is wrong. Can someone please explain why A is wrong? I think this problem is confusing because A and D sound so similar.

Thanks!