RC Question 23 Explanation
DISCUSSION: To see the purpose of a paragraph, it helps to read a bit of the previous paragraph. In lines 43-46, the author describes “reasoning, seemingly plausible” that supports the subtractive method.
So at the start of paragraph 4, the phrase “immediately obvious problem….this method” refers to a problem with the subtractive method. So, the purpose of paragraph 4 is to critique this method.
And if you go a bit further back, you can see that paragraph 3 starts with “But”. This shows that the views in paragraph 3 are critiquing the ideas in paragraph 2. So, paragraph 4 is defending paragraph 2 against paragraph 3. To put in all together:
- Paragraph 1: Modular theory of mind, and the idea that there may be problems with brain scans.
- Paragraph 2: Uttal’s views, and author’s critique of modular theory of mind.
- Paragraph 3: Counterargument supporting modular theory and attacking paragraph 2.
- Paragraph 4: Author’s argument against paragraph 3, in support of paragraph 2.
___________
- The first paragraph introduced “basic premise”: the modular theory, and paragraph 3 defends the modular theory. So, this answer doesn’t hold up.
- None of this matches. In the first paragraph, the author suggested there were problems with the use of brain scans. Whereas the third paragraph offers an apparent defense of brain scans and the modular theory of the mind.
- This answer says that the second paragraph describes “an outdated theoretical model”. But the second paragraph describes Uttal’s model, and the author agrees with Uttal! So this answer is wrong.
- Paragraph 4 starts by describing the “immediately obviously….problem” in the method described in paragraph 3. So the author uses paragraph 4 to disagree with paragraph 3.
- CORRECT. You can see this by following the structural words. “But” at the start of paragraph 3 shows that paragraph 3 is opposed to paragraph 2. And then “immediately obvious….problem” shows that paragraph 4 is disagreeing with paragraph 3.
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