Logical reasoning PrepTest 117 · Section 3 · Question 25

Incorrect. Since the author of this argument believes that they are uninterrupted streams of sound, this answer would guarantee that it's impossible to understand sentences, which is ridiculous. Verbal communication would thus be impossible.

Incorrect. This answer establishes that the non—speakers's perception doesn't reflect how that language actually sounds, undermining an argument that sides with their perception.

Incorrect. What matters is which perception is correct, not the amount of attention paid to the language, so this answer is out of scope.

Incorrect. Non—native speakers of a language are out of scope—the argument compares native speakers to non—speakers. And, if anything, this answer cuts against the conclusion.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen with Necessary Premise

Stimulus Summary:
Native speakers — Hear separate words when people talk
Listeners who don't speak language — Hear an uninterrupted stream of sound
Conclusion — Native speakers's perception is an illusion

Answer Anticipation:
This argument notes that native speakers and people who don't know a language perceive the language differently. From this, it concludes that the perception of the non—speakers is the accurate one, and that language isn't separate words but an uninterrupted stream of sound, making the native speaker's perceptions "an illusion."

However that's completely siding with the perception of the non—speakers! It could be that the non—speakers are missing something that the speakers can hear—not because it doesn't exist but because they just don't have the knowledge to understand it.

It'd be like saying that physicists understand when each other speak of quantum physics but it sounds like a bunch of nonsense to non—physicists so quantum physics must be nonsense. It's not! The non—physicists just don't understand it.

Answer Explanation:
This answer establishes that the native speakers don't have more accurate perception of their language than non—speakers thus allowing the author's conclusion that the perception of the latter is the correct perception to be possible. If native speakers do have more accurate perceptions of their language than non—speakers then the argument's conclusion that sides with the latter falls apart.

Key Takeaway:
When conflicting views are presented and the author sides with one check to see what evidence she presents to support that decision. If there isn't any then look for such evidence in the answers!