Q4 - According to economists, people's

[mshinners]

Question Type:
Determine the Function

Stimulus Breakdown:
(I'm listening to a little Stevie and Don Henley while working on this question)

The author starts with what economists say, so we should expect the author to take a stance different than theirs. And this is a rundown of a basic economic principle - the cheaper something is, the more demand there is. Steel is brought up as an example (which is also the statement in question).

Then, we pivot to another example. Since we're pivoting ("Nevertheless"), we should expect this example to cut in a different direction. And it does - lace became cheaper and demand went down (because it didn't have the same cachet). The author jumps in with a conclusion - there are exceptions to the general rule. Shocker.

Answer Anticipation:
When approaching DtF questions, it's generally a good idea to head into the answer choices knowing if the statement in question is a premise or a conclusion; and if it's part of the author's view or an opposing point. Here, it's an example for the original point by the economists.

Correct Answer:
C

Answer Choice Analysis:
(A) The conclusion is that there are exceptions to the rule, but the author is more than willing to admit that there are examples that do follow the rule, steel being one of them. This isn't about disproving a conclusion, but rather qualifying it with exceptions.

(B) This answer describes the role of the lace example, if anything.

(C) Perfect! The author carves out exceptions to the general rule, but steel is an illustration of that general rule.

(D) The author doesn't argue that the hypothesis is false; just that it has some exceptions.

(E) The second half of this answer is correct, but the first isn't. This is an example, not a reason. It's also the only example, not one of several.

Takeaway/Pattern: When there are two arguments presented in a Determine the Function question, figure out which side of the argument the statement in question hails from, and whether it serves as premise or conclusion. Also, "example" is a common role questioned, and language about "illustrating" an argument lines up with an example perfectly.

#officialexplanation

[RiaK633]

I am confused by your explanation for A. While I do see why C is correct, I don't see that A is doing what you say. It seems A is saying that just because there are times that people's tendency is inversely proportional to price, does not mean we can reject that there are exceptions to that rule. Can you clarify why A is wrong?