Question #998

Correct understanding of sentence structure to question.

Started by Crew · started 2024-05-28 22:41 · last activity 2024-05-29 12:44 · 1 reply

Hello! Looking at the question "Which one of the following most accurately characterizes the role played in the passage by the unstated assumption that some patients who take penicillin develop bacteria with an immunity to penicillin?' I was confused by the unstated assumption part. To me, it seemed as if it was hinted at in line 1."Scientists, puzzled about the development of penicillin-resistant bacteria in patients who had not been taking penicillin, believe they have found an explanation." With "who had not been taking p" Being the most critical part. Hinting as if we knew more about the opposite. I was able to process of elimination my way to C. However it felt like more of a guess than a concrete answer. Was I correct in looking to line 1? Any other advice I would take gladly! Best! Crew

Replies

Emil-Kunkin · 2024-05-29 12:44

The line you pointed out may imply that penicillin resistance happens in patients, but it certainly doesn't state it. It hints as you said, which makes it an unstated assumption. That said this is actually completely irrelevant to the question. The question asked what tile the thing played in the argument. It could have said unstated assumption, or it could have said implication, but either way your job is to understand what it does in the passage. C does more or less describe why it matters. If we find resistance in people who are taking it, and people who are not, we have a weird puzzle that we then need to resolve. This is true regardless of whether it's an unstated assumption or if the author had said it outright. One important note: don't fight the test. If the question stem tells you that X is a premise, it's a premise.