PrepTest 140 - Section 4 - Passage 3 - Question 19

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In certain fields of human endeavor, such as music, chess, and some athletic activities, the performance of the best practitioners is so outstanding, so superior even to the performance of other highly experienced individuals in the field, that some people believe some notion of innate talent must be invoked to account for this highest level of performance. ███

Phenomenon / OP Hypothesis · Exceptional performance explained by innate talent

Evidence for OP Hypothesis · Heritability of traits; inborn traits like motor coordination, reflex speed, etc.

Critique · Not much systematic research

Existing estimates of heritability based on general population, not exceptional performers.

Alternative Hypothesis · Exceptional performance explained by acquired complex skills and physiological adaptations

Evidence for Alternative Hypothesis · Exceptional performance is localized to the particular domain

For example, Michael Jordan's adventures in baseball. Chess players have exceptional memories but only for typical configurations of chess pieces.

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Evidence · Supporting acquired trait hypothesis and countering innate ability hypothesis

Most exceptional adults were not exceptional children; they trained early; skills like memory and ability to process information acquired; most traits (e.g. aerobic capacity and percentage of muscle fibers) can be altered by training.

Conclusion · Evidence does not support innate ability hypothesis

Because extended intense training along with a common level of talent can explain the difference in performance.

Implications · Motivation as better predictor of superior performance

Because sustained training depends on level of interest, hence motivational factors are better predictors of superior performance than innate talent.

Passage Style

Critique or debate

Phenomenon-hypothesis (RC)

19.

The passage says that superior █████ ███████ ██ ███ ████ ███████████ ██████ ███ █████ ███ ██ ███ ██████████

Question Type

Stated

The author indicates that superior chess players have an exceptional memory for configurations of chess pieces, but “only if those configurations are typical of chess games.” That means in order for the player to have an exceptional memory of a configuration, it must be typical of a chess game. If it’s not a typical arrangement in a chess game — in other words, an unusual arrangement in a chess game — then the player won’t have an exceptional memory of it.

some sequences of █████ ████ ███ ███████ ██ █████ █████ ████ █████

Not supported. The exceptional memory or lack of it relates to “configurations” of chess pieces, not a sequence of moves. (A) is popular because people think the exceptional memory doesn’t apply to other games besides chess. But that’s not what the relevant line implies. It says nothing about other kinds of games besides chess.

53%

some types of ███████ █████████ ███████ ███████ ██████████

Not supported. The exceptional memory or lack of it relates to “configurations” of chess pieces, not complex sequences without spatial elements.

some chess games ████ ████ ███ ████ ██████████ ███████████

Not supported. The exceptional memory or lack of it relates to “configurations” of chess pieces, not the challenge of a game.

some kinds of ████████████ ██ █████ ██████

Supported. If a configuration is not typical for a chess game — for example, a random arrangement of pieces that looks nothing like what would actually result in a game of chess — the players don't have an exceptional memory of it.

37%

some types of ███████ █████████ ███████ ████████ ██ ███ ███████ ██ ███████████

Not supported. The exceptional memory or lack of it relates to “configurations” of chess pieces, not to factors requiring logical analysis.

PrepTest 140 - Section 4 - Passage 3 - Question 19

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