Logical reasoning PrepTest 127 · Section 1 · Question 21

Valid

Argument Structure Questions

Situation 1 - One of Newton’s works was initially understandable by only a few, but the ideas eventually spread.

Generalization - Scientific ideas can eventually be communicated broadly

Situation 2 - Current scientific research is expressible in terms only a few would understand

Conclusion - This research may (similar to Newton’s) eventually spread more widely

Argument Structure questions can be made much easier if you can identify the method of reasoning used. Since those methods themselves have set general structures, it’s a lot easier to see how a statement in question fits into an argument if you have this structure in mind.

Here, the argument very much relies on an analogy/comparable situation. It starts out by bringing up an example (Newton’s Principia) in order to highlight a general principle - that the barriers preventing scientific ideas from being communicated to the public can be overcome.

It then brings up modern research that’s similar to Newton’s, and applies the principle to it, stating that it, too, might eventually be communicated to the public at large.

The statement in question is the one describing the similarity between the modern research and Newton’s work. As such, it’s a premise, a part of the comparison/analogy that leads to the conclusion.

One final note before we look at the answers - it can seem as if the statement in question is a part of the conclusion since it’s included in the sentence. However, it’s offset in that conclusion by commas, and it’s something that is stated to be accepted as fact about recent scientific research (without reason to back it up), so it’s a premise, and not actually a part of the conclusion. In Argument Structure questions that ask about a clause offset within the conclusion, be careful of answers that say it’s a part of the conclusion. It could be, but it rarely is.