Role in ArgumentDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Tom thinks students should be forced to work part-time to learn job skills, but Mary points out that there aren't enough jobs available to make that requirement possible.
Conclusion: Tom concludes that high school students should be required to work part-time jobs to gain necessary vocational skills.
Reasoning: Tom bases his argument on employer complaints about skill gaps and the premise that these skills are most effectively learned through actual employment. Mary counters by noting a shortage of available part-time positions and arguing that a mandate will not increase job availability.
Analysis: This is a classic 'Role in Argument' structure where we must determine how the second speaker's contribution interacts with the first. Mary isn't disputing Tom's premises—she doesn't deny that students lack skills or that jobs are the best place to learn them. Instead, she introduces a practical constraint that makes Tom's conclusion impossible to implement. When looking for the right answer, focus on descriptions of Mary's response as a challenge to the feasibility or practicality of Tom's proposal. She is essentially saying, 'Your plan sounds nice, but it's physically impossible given the current job market.'
Conclusion: Tom concludes that high school students should be required to work part-time jobs to gain necessary vocational skills.
Reasoning: Tom bases his argument on employer complaints about skill gaps and the premise that these skills are most effectively learned through actual employment. Mary counters by noting a shortage of available part-time positions and arguing that a mandate will not increase job availability.
Analysis: This is a classic 'Role in Argument' structure where we must determine how the second speaker's contribution interacts with the first. Mary isn't disputing Tom's premises—she doesn't deny that students lack skills or that jobs are the best place to learn them. Instead, she introduces a practical constraint that makes Tom's conclusion impossible to implement. When looking for the right answer, focus on descriptions of Mary's response as a challenge to the feasibility or practicality of Tom's proposal. She is essentially saying, 'Your plan sounds nice, but it's physically impossible given the current job market.'
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage25.Which one of the following most accurately describes how Mary's response is related to Tom's argument?
Correct Answer
D
Mary targets Tom’s necessary assumption that mandating work will translate into actual part-time employment for students. By pointing out that there are too few jobs and requirements do not create jobs, she presents a consideration that undercuts an assumption on which Tom’s argument depends.
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