PT135.S2.Q7 > Question

SECTION 1 · lr

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SECTION 2 · lr

SECTION 3 · rc

PASSAGE 1

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PASSAGE 2

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PASSAGE 4

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SECTION 4 · lr

The author concludes that learning to talk is an entirely physical process and doesn’t involve learning anything mental or intellectual. She bases her conclusion on the fact that children aren’t able to physically produce most sounds until they are at least several years old.

We’re given a necessary condition for being able to talk—the physical ability to produce certain sounds. Infants fail this condition, so we can validly conclude they can’t talk. We don’t know if this is the only necessary condition for speaking, however, or if infants fail any of these other conditions. Perhaps learning different words is also necessary, and children must learn both the physical ability to produce sounds and vocabulary in order to speak. As such, we must assume that there are no other requirements for speech other than the physical ability to produce sounds.

We must eliminate any other possible requirements for speaking outside of physical ability in order for the conclusion to be drawn. If other requirements exist, like learning vocabulary and grammar, then there are no grounds to conclude that learning to talk is only a matter of one’s physical ability.

The premises tell us that infants can’t intentionally produce certain sounds, so it is not necessary to know the exact physical reason why. Perhaps they can control their tongues, but can’t form vowel shapes or move their vocal cords. As long as it is some physical reason, the argument is unaffected.

We don’t care how long the babbling stage lasts. It could last for one day or the entire duration of infancy, and neither would change the fact that most children can’t physically produce sounds until they are a few years old.

Even if speech acquisition begins before children can make sounds at all, learning to speak could still be a physical process; maybe infants have to learn how to open their mouths before they can babble. This would still represent a physical learning process, so the conclusion would be unaffected.

(E) undermines the conclusion by implying that speaking does require some mental process. We’re looking to eliminate alternate requirements, not highlight them.

PrepTest 135 - Section 2 - Question 7

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