PrepTest 158

Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Argument Exchange (Point at Issue)

Passage Summary:
Paula says that Earthlike planets are the norm. So, aliens probably exist on other planets. Also, aliens would share our understanding of math and science. They would discover the same forces and develop the same technologies we did. So, our radio telescopes will probably detect aliens.

Ashley criticizes Paula's argument, comparing it to the prediction that aliens would have the same legal and political systems we do. Ashley points out that our understanding of math, science, and technology is unique to ourselves and our environment. So, using radio telescopes is a waste of time and money.

Strategy Overview:

1. Argument or facts for both speakers? If argument for one or both speakers, identify the conclusion and premises
2. Anticipate the issue that speakers disagree over. Helps to focus on topics both speakers discuss
3. Use anticipation to select the answer choice that:
1. One speaker agrees with, and
2. One speaker disagrees with

Answer Anticipation:
Point at Issue questions ask us to find an answer choice one speaker agrees with and the other disagrees with. This question is a little challenging because, well, what don't Paula and Ashley disagree over? Their conclusions are in complete disagreement. Paula says radio telescopes will detect aliens; Ashley implies they won't by arguing that they're a "waste of time and money." Ashley's premises also show that she disagrees with Paula. Ashley says our understanding of math, science, and technology is unique to ourselves and our environment. However, Paula says that aliens would share our understanding of math and science and thus develop the same technologies we did. So, Paula thinks aliens and humans would share an understanding of math, science, and technology, while Ashley thinks aliens would have a different understanding of math, science, and technology. The correct answer will probably reflect one of these disagreements.

Answer Choice Explanation:
This is a bit more specific than our anticipations, but it does relate to Paula and Ashley's disagreement over whether aliens would develop the same technology we did. And it uses the weak, easy-to-support language ("probable," "there are") we like a Connecting Facts question. Paula says that aliens develop the same technologies we did, and they both agree that we've developed radio communication. However, Ashley says that our technology is unique to ourselves and our environment, implying that aliens would not develop similar technology. She underlines this point by arguing that using radio communication to search for aliens is a waste of time and money, suggesting that aliens won't have radios to communicate with us. So, although this is more specific than our anticipations, it is correct. Paula would agree with this, while Ashley would disagree with it. 

Key Takeaway:
It's OK if an answer choice is more specific than our anticipations. It will be correct as long as one speaker agrees and the other disagrees with the answer choice.

We know Ashley would disagree with this claim. However, Paula never discusses whether aliens would share our legal or political systems. The way Ashley poses this idea as absurd suggests no one believes that aliens would share our legal or political systems. Even then, Paula and Ashley wouldn't disagree with each other.

We know that Ashley agrees with this statement — she says technology is a "unique outgrowth" of our cognitive makeup. Paula never explicitly discusses our cognitive makeup. Paula suggests that technology comes from our understanding of mathematics and physics. Even if that counts as coming from our "cognitive makeup," Paula and Ashley's opinions would be aligned on this issue.

Paula definitely agrees with this. But Ashley never indicates whether she believes intelligent life exists on other planets. She doesn't say she believes in aliens, but she doesn't rule it out, either. She doesn't think aliens, if they exist, would share much in common with us or be traceable by radio communication.

Neither speaker has an opinion on this. Paula probably supports the amount of money we spend on radio telescopes. But she never says we should spend more money searching for aliens. And Ashley doesn't think radio telescopes are a good use of money, but she doesn't rule out spending more money to look for aliens some other way. Since neither speaker expresses or implies their opinion on this topic, we can eliminate (E).