Role in ArgumentDiff: Hard
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Even though Isaac Newton's famous book was super confusing to almost everyone when it first came out, people eventually understood it. This means that even if today's science seems like gibberish to most people, it could still become common knowledge in the future.
Conclusion: Recent scientific research may eventually become part of the general public's intellectual heritage.
Reasoning: Historically, complex works like Newton's Principia were initially understood by very few but eventually reached the masses, proving that communication barriers can be overcome.
Analysis: The phrase in question identifies a specific characteristic of modern research—its esoteric nature—to show it shares the same starting point as Newton's work. By establishing this similarity, the scientist can then apply the historical lesson of the Principia to modern science. I identified this as a premise because it provides the necessary context to justify the analogy. Look for an answer that describes this as a claim used to establish that the current situation is relevantly similar to the historical example.
Conclusion: Recent scientific research may eventually become part of the general public's intellectual heritage.
Reasoning: Historically, complex works like Newton's Principia were initially understood by very few but eventually reached the masses, proving that communication barriers can be overcome.
Analysis: The phrase in question identifies a specific characteristic of modern research—its esoteric nature—to show it shares the same starting point as Newton's work. By establishing this similarity, the scientist can then apply the historical lesson of the Principia to modern science. I identified this as a premise because it provides the necessary context to justify the analogy. Look for an answer that describes this as a claim used to establish that the current situation is relevantly similar to the historical example.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage21.Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the scientist's argument by the claim that recent scientific research can often be described only in language that seems esoteric to most contemporary readers?
Correct Answer
D
It mainly serves to establish the relevance of the Newton example to the final conclusion by highlighting that recent research, like Principia, appears esoteric at first, supporting the analogy the argument relies on.
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