Summarize Argument
Metallic mirrors can’t be used when minimizing energy loss is important. Why not? The mirrors absorb light and waste energy. This is because electrons in the metallic mirror move when light strikes it. This uses energy and makes the reflected image dimmer.
Identify Conclusion
The conclusion is the practical application of the process described: “metallic mirrors cannot be used in applications in which minimizing energy loss is important”
A
Metallic mirrors reduce the effectiveness of high-powered lasers.
Lasers are just an example the author uses of applications where minimizing energy loss is important. The conclusion does not center on these devices alone.
B
Part of the light falling on metallic mirrors tends to be absorbed by them.
This is part of the premises - reasoning for why these mirrors should not be used where minimizing energy loss is important.
C
High-powered lasers require mirrors that conserve energy.
The conclusion centers on these mirrors not being used where minimizing energy loss is important. It does not talk about what mirrors should be used, nor does it focus on lasers alone.
D
A tendency to waste energy is the most significant disadvantage of metallic mirrors.
The stimulus just discusses that the mirrors do waste energy. It does not draw conclusions about how significant the disadvantage is.
E
Metallic mirrors are unsuitable for applications where it is crucial to minimize energy loss.
This accurately paraphrases the conclusion. The author establishes that they are unsuitable and explains why.
Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The author hypothesizes that the work done in Department F causes higher stress levels than work done in other departments. This is because workers in Department F are more often afflicted by a stress-related syndrome.
Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that workers in Department F are succumbing to the syndrome due to stress, rather than due to some other reason related to their work. He also assumes that workers in Department F aren’t being tested more frequently for the syndrome in question. If workers in Department F were tested more frequently, then that would explain the discrepancy. Last, he assumes that Department F isn’t simply comprised of people who happen to be predisposed towards the syndrome.
A
Department F has more employees than any other department in the company.
We care about relative rates. This talks about raw totals.
B
Some experts believe that the syndrome can be caused by various factors, only one of which is high stress.
We already know this is true. The author says the syndrome is “often attributed to stress.”
C
Many workers who transfer into Department F from elsewhere in the company soon begin to develop the syndrome.
Department F isn’t just comprised of people who happen to be affected by the syndrome. People in fact develop the syndrome once they transfer into Department F.
D
It is relatively common for workers in the transportation industry to suffer from the syndrome.
We don’t care how common it is among transportation employees, generally. We’re interested in the relative rates between departments.
E
Job-related stress has been the most frequently cited cause for dissatisfaction among workers at the company.
We need something that differentiates Department F from the rest of the company. This doesn’t do that.
Myungsook: I disagree. Converting observations into numbers is the hardest and last task; it can be done only when you have thoroughly explored the observations themselves.
Speaker 1 Summary
Clarissa argues that mathematics has been necessary to allow the natural sciences to progress. To support this, Clarissa says that scientific observations are only worth attention if they are stated in precise, quantitative terms. (It seems that this requires mathematics in some way.)
Speaker 2 Summary
Myungsook disagrees, and instead comes to the implied conclusion that observations can be worth serious attention even without being stated in precise quantitative terms. To support this idea, Myungsook tells us that observations can only be put in quantitative terms after being “thoroughly explored,” which would reasonably require paying attention to them.
Objective
A
mathematics has been a highly significant factor in the advance of the natural sciences
Clarissa would agree with this claim, but Myungsook doesn’t disagree. Myungsook doesn’t state an opinion one way or the other about the importance of mathematics to the natural sciences.
B
converting observations into quantitative terms is usually easy
Myungsook would disagree with this, but Clarissa never states an opinion. Clarissa actually doesn’t say anything about the easiness or difficulty of converting an observation into quantitative terms.
C
not all observations can be stated precisely in quantitative terms
The speakers don’t talk about this. Neither Clarissa nor Myungsook mentions anything about the limitations that may exist on what observations can be stated in quantitative terms, if any.
D
successfully doing natural science demands careful consideration of observations not stated precisely in quantitative terms
Clarissa disagrees, but Myungsook agrees: this is the disagreement. Clarissa says that scientists should only think about quantitatively stated observations. Myungsook, however, says scientists need to think about observations before they can be stated quantitatively.
E
useful scientific theories require the application of mathematics
Clarissa would probably agree with this. Myungsook, on the other hand, never talks about how necessary mathematics might be to science.