PrepTest 132, Section 1, Question 21
Passage A Because dental caries (decay) is strongly(485 more words not shown)
Passage A(220 more words not shown)
Passage B(273 more words not shown)
The evidence from Ban Chiang(27 more words not shown)
- AThe evidence confirms(2 more words not shown)
- BThe evidence tends(4 more words not shown)
- CThe evidence is(4 more words not shown)
- DThe evidence does(5 more words not shown)
- EThe evidence disproves(2 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
A's generalization is that greater dependence on agriculture usually goes with more tooth decay. Ban Chiang became more dependent on agriculture, yet the later group had slightly less decay. So I predict an exception to the expected pattern.
Working the answers
- A
The evidence goes against the predicted pattern; it doesn't confirm it.
- B
For the same reason, it doesn't tend to support the generalization. More agriculture came with less decay here.
- C
It directly concerns agriculture and decay, the very relationship in the generalization. An unexpected result is still relevant evidence.
- DCorrect
Ban Chiang does not conform to the general pattern. We expected the later, more agricultural group to have more decay, and it didn't.
- E
A qualifies its claim with “in general.” One population departing from that pattern doesn't establish that the overall tendency is false. We can recognize the exception without claiming to have overturned the generalization.
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