Scientists typically do their most creative work before the age of forty.
It is commonly thought that this happens because aging by itself brings about a loss of creative capacity.
However, studies show that a disproportionately large number of the scientists who produce highly creative work beyond the age of forty entered their field at an older age than is usual.
Since by the age of forty the large majority of scientists have been working in their field for at least fifteen years, the studies’ finding strongly suggests that the real reason why scientists over forty rarely produce highly creative work is not that they have simply aged but rather that they generally have spent too long in a given field.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
A.
The first is the position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second is an objection that has been raised against a position defended in the argument.
B.
The first is a claim that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes; the second is a finding that has been used in support of that position.
C.
The first is an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is a finding that has been used in support of that explanation.
D.
The first is an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is a finding on which that challenge is based.
E.
The first is an explanation that the argument defends; the second is a finding that has been used to challenge that explanation.
这道题我也很困惑：
D.
The first is an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is a finding on which that challenge is based.
我认为作者的argument是 the real reason why scientists over forty rarely produce highly creative work is not that they have simply aged but rather that they generally have spent too long in a given field.所以D中the first解释没问题；可是the second说是that challenge is based，其中challenge是指Scientists typically do their most creative because aging by itself brings about a loss of creative capacity work before the age of forty. 怎么可能是base呢？！
请高手指教！！！作者: applejsjs 时间: 2011-2-11 08:59
我觉得challenge是指Scientists typically do not their most creative because aging by itself brings about a loss of creative capacity work before the age of forty.,而这句话是based在后面一段粗体字上的作者: lilingfeng 时间: 2011-2-11 21:10
那你觉得argument是什么呢？however前面的两句并没有表达Scientists typically do not their most creative because aging by itself brings about a loss of creative capacity work before the age of forty的意思哦~作者: brunhildS 时间: 2011-2-12 07:28
Known fact 1 : Scientists typically do their most creative work before the age of forty. Creative work --> mostly done before 40.
First bold face : aging by itself brings about a loss of creative capacity. Translation: aging --> loss of creativity. This claim is used to explain the known fact 1.
Known fact 2 (second bold face): a disproportionately large number of the scientists who produce highly creative work beyond the age of forty entered their field at an older age than is usual. Translation : still creative after 40 --> most entered the field later than the norm. This finding puts doubt on the "aging after 40" hypothesis since it provides another explanation to known fact 1 : The longer you work in a given field, the harder you will produce creative work. In other words, the author hints that creative work has to be done within a given time frame ( about 15 years ) after one enters the field. After that, creative work is unlikely to happen.
Combined together, the first bold face is the part that the author challenges; the second bold face is the part that the author uses as evidence to make the challenge. Answer D is right.作者: sjmdlycs 时间: 2011-2-15 06:47
本题是作者提出大众的普遍看法，然后用finding去反驳。E是正确的。
D的意思是，作者对aging by itself brings about a loss of creative capacity有看法，而finding是这些看法的依据。
与E不同，D表达的是前后一致 （challenge, use finding to challenge), 而E表达的是前后冲突 （defend, use finding to challenge)。作者恰恰是想要推翻defense,用finding制造冲突。因而，选E作者: endless1990 时间: 2011-2-15 20:15
LS:
You confused the following concepts:
大家 vs the author
It is the author, not 大家, who challenges the notion that aging by itself brings about a loss of creative capacity. Actually 大家 believe that aging by itself brings about a loss of creative capacity.
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