Examkin

Soru

Zorluk: Çok zorApplying the Negation Technique

Epidemiologist: To defend against novel pathogens, our health agency is exclusively funding the rapid sequencing of viral genomes to facilitate the swift creation of targeted vaccines. However, targeted vaccines are efficacious only if a critical mass of the population undergoes inoculation. Recent extensive polling reveals a historically unprecedented decline in the public's willingness to accept novel vaccines. Consequently, because of this decline, the agency's funding strategy will inevitably fail to provide an efficacious defense against novel pathogens.

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the epidemiologist's argument?

  1. A
    If a critical mass of the population were to undergo inoculation, the rapid sequencing of viral genomes would result in an efficacious defense.
  2. B
    No individual who expressed reluctance in the recent polling will consent to inoculation when a novel pathogen actually emerges.
  3. The decline in public willingness to accept novel vaccines is significant enough to prevent a critical mass of the population from undergoing inoculation.Cevap
  4. D
    The unprecedented decline in public willingness is the sole reason why a critical mass of the population will not undergo inoculation.
  5. E
    The public's decline in willingness to accept novel vaccines was caused by a lack of trust in the agency's exclusive funding of viral genome sequencing.

Cevap

The correct option is the one stating that the decline in public willingness is significant enough to prevent a critical mass of the population from undergoing inoculation.
To evaluate a necessary assumption, apply the Negation Technique: negate the statement and see if it destroys the argument. The author concludes the strategy will inevitably fail because of the recent decline in willingness. The premise states efficacy requires a 'critical mass' of inoculation. If we negate the correct statement, we get: 'The decline is NOT significant enough to prevent a critical mass.' If a critical mass can still be achieved despite the decline, then the vaccines could still be efficacious. This completely destroys the author's conclusion that failure is inevitable, proving this assumption is absolutely required.

Adım Adım Çözüm

1
Analyze the argument structure to identify premises and the main conclusion.
Premise 1: Efficacy requires a critical mass. Premise 2: There is a massive decline in public willingness. Conclusion: The strategy will inevitably fail.
Understanding the exact logical flow is necessary to spot the gap between the evidence provided and the absolute certainty of the conclusion.
2
Identify the logical gap or term shift between the premises and the conclusion.
The author jumps from 'a decline in willingness' to the certainty of failure. Since failure happens if there is no 'critical mass', the gap is the assumption that the decline strictly means a critical mass will not be reached.
Necessary assumptions always bridge a gap or eliminate an alternative possibility that would prevent the conclusion from following logically from the premises.
3
Apply the Negation Technique to the most likely answer choices.
Negating the correct statement creates a scenario where the decline exists, but a critical mass is still reached. This direct contradiction destroys the conclusion.
The Negation Technique is the definitive test for necessary assumptions; if the logical opposite of a choice destroys the argument, that choice is strictly required.

Anahtar Kavram

Applying the Negation Technique to Necessary Assumptions
Tahmini Süre:2m 0s
Bu soruyu puanla

Konular

Applying the Negation Technique

Bu konudan daha fazla soru