Its seems to me even when comparison is implied, there are still words to key in on. For example, ending a word in -er usually shows comparison to something else. Other examples can be the words/phrases "better" and "more" / "less"
I'm curious if there are examples of comparatives that don't use clues like this that I may not be thinking of.
If the concentration of air pollutants is above normal for a prolonged period, then there are many more respiratory issues.
Implication...:
There are many more respiratory issues when the concentration of air pollutants is above normal for a prolonged period of time, than when air pollutants is not above normal for a prolonged period of time.
Would it be reasonable for example 3 to infer the following? The empty lot will more likely be developed as a community center than it will anything else.
@zleche I think that if that was the inference you were supposed to make, the word would be "most", instead of "more".
"Most" implies that the lot is more likely to developed as a community center than anything else. "More" implies it is more likely to be developed than something else, making the context necessary for one to be able to meaningfully infer anything.
Why do we have to extrapolate that cafes are busier at all times of the day in example 2? Isn't it possible (if not more reasonable to assume) that they are simply busier than a specific point in time, even without added context directing us to that conclusion?
@fishingto9 I think the interpretation is somewhat ambiguous, but it is more likely that the writer meant to imply that the morning, relative to all other points in time, was the busiest. Of course with context this statement could be referring to other points in time, but I think it's really open to interpretation, I do think it's reasonable to assume that other things might be implied
but how are we supposed to "imply" that cafes are busy from our own personal experience if we're supposed to not allow personal biases to affect our choices on the test?
You do not need to access your own personal experience to conclude that cafes are busier during the morning rush - it says it in the stimulus: "the cafes are always busier during the morning rush". Then, since we're dealing with the 24 hour confines of a day and hence the group of relata we're pulling from is not infinite (we're looking at specific times of day or sections of the day, not just any time in human history), you can now assume that the morning rush is being compared against the non-morning rush, and the stimulus details that the morning rush is busier than these.
For example three: wouldn't the implied meaning of the sentence be "The empty lot will more likely be developed as a community center than not-a community center."? does this also work?
Tom had been struggling with a chronic illness. But after the prolonged adjustment to his new medication, he started to show signs of improvement. His friend Sarah visited him and noticed a positive change in his demeanor. She excitedly shared with others, "Tom is feeling better today!"
I think it would be more strongly inferred that he is feeling better today than when he was not on the medication. This is considering the part that states "prolonged adjustment", however I could see how it could also be that he is feeling better than yesterday. Anyone care to pitch in/clarify #help
This is very similar to conditional statements without a logical indicator. The use of a logical indicator in a conditional statement and the use of a “than” in a comparative statement is something that we can use as a translation mechanism when we are given statements that lack them.
Another important thing to remember is that we can not over infer a comparative statement when there isn’t one. A lot of wrong answers, especially on reading comp, will wrongly try to make a comparison that isn’t there. Rather, understanding a comparative statement is the first step in getting a inference question right.
Take the following example.
Michael Jordan is the best of all time in basketball.
Comparative statement: Michael Jordan is better than everyone else.
Aside: Bob Love plays basketball.
Inference: Bob Love is not as good as MJ.
Wrong inference: Michael Jordan is a better shooter/dribbler/defender then Bob Love. <—- these are inferences that are “out of scope.”
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27 comments
Some guys score better with the ladies when out on a boat. Whats the implication???
@danjpeach96 That some guys score worse when their out on a no-boat.
I think.
@GGG I don’t think you’re getting it. The implication is things might now go so well for them if they say no.
@GGG It’s a Always Sunny reference lol just a joke
Dom did better in his LSAT drills today than 3 weeks ago. He was using 7Sage.
If the concentration of air pollutants is above normal for a prolonged period, then there are many more respiratory issues.
Simple example:
If the weather is rainy, there is more traffic in the city.
It is implied that there is more traffic in the city when the weather is rainy than when the weather is not rainy.
Tyra is skinner than she was last month. She snorts a ton of coke.
@evooqueen IM DEAD I LAUGHED
Its seems to me even when comparison is implied, there are still words to key in on. For example, ending a word in -er usually shows comparison to something else. Other examples can be the words/phrases "better" and "more" / "less"
I'm curious if there are examples of comparatives that don't use clues like this that I may not be thinking of.
If the concentration of air pollutants is above normal for a prolonged period, then there are many more respiratory issues.
Implication...:
There are many more respiratory issues when the concentration of air pollutants is above normal for a prolonged period of time, than when air pollutants is not above normal for a prolonged period of time.
The Cafes are always busier during the morning rush
Implication...:
The cafes are busier during the morning rush than the Afternoon, or night.
Would it be reasonable for example 3 to infer the following? The empty lot will more likely be developed as a community center than it will anything else.
@zleche I think that if that was the inference you were supposed to make, the word would be "most", instead of "more".
"Most" implies that the lot is more likely to developed as a community center than anything else. "More" implies it is more likely to be developed than something else, making the context necessary for one to be able to meaningfully infer anything.
Why do we have to extrapolate that cafes are busier at all times of the day in example 2? Isn't it possible (if not more reasonable to assume) that they are simply busier than a specific point in time, even without added context directing us to that conclusion?
@fishingto9 I think the interpretation is somewhat ambiguous, but it is more likely that the writer meant to imply that the morning, relative to all other points in time, was the busiest. Of course with context this statement could be referring to other points in time, but I think it's really open to interpretation, I do think it's reasonable to assume that other things might be implied
Very helpful!
I think of the Marcel the Shell video - ‘compared to what?!’
but how are we supposed to "imply" that cafes are busy from our own personal experience if we're supposed to not allow personal biases to affect our choices on the test?
You do not need to access your own personal experience to conclude that cafes are busier during the morning rush - it says it in the stimulus: "the cafes are always busier during the morning rush". Then, since we're dealing with the 24 hour confines of a day and hence the group of relata we're pulling from is not infinite (we're looking at specific times of day or sections of the day, not just any time in human history), you can now assume that the morning rush is being compared against the non-morning rush, and the stimulus details that the morning rush is busier than these.
@Tom_____________ great reasoning!
For example three: wouldn't the implied meaning of the sentence be "The empty lot will more likely be developed as a community center than not-a community center."? does this also work?
Yeah, I interpreted this the same way, with an implied "than otherwise"
In the first example:
Tom had been struggling with a chronic illness. But after the prolonged adjustment to his new medication, he started to show signs of improvement. His friend Sarah visited him and noticed a positive change in his demeanor. She excitedly shared with others, "Tom is feeling better today!"
I think it would be more strongly inferred that he is feeling better today than when he was not on the medication. This is considering the part that states "prolonged adjustment", however I could see how it could also be that he is feeling better than yesterday. Anyone care to pitch in/clarify #help
Good point. I made some edits. Hopefully more clear now. Thanks for the feedback!
This is very similar to conditional statements without a logical indicator. The use of a logical indicator in a conditional statement and the use of a “than” in a comparative statement is something that we can use as a translation mechanism when we are given statements that lack them.
Another important thing to remember is that we can not over infer a comparative statement when there isn’t one. A lot of wrong answers, especially on reading comp, will wrongly try to make a comparison that isn’t there. Rather, understanding a comparative statement is the first step in getting a inference question right.
Take the following example.
Michael Jordan is the best of all time in basketball.
Comparative statement: Michael Jordan is better than everyone else.
Aside: Bob Love plays basketball.
Inference: Bob Love is not as good as MJ.
Wrong inference: Michael Jordan is a better shooter/dribbler/defender then Bob Love. <—- these are inferences that are “out of scope.”
Wouldn’t your inference need to say Bob is not as good at basketball as MJ or can you imply the basketball part?
No, because we know MJ is the best, we know everyone else (Bob) is not as good.