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Craft and StructureHardRelationship: qualifying a general claim

Craft and Structure practice question

Text 1 Learning a second language in adulthood improves memory and attention, researchers report, based on tests given to 300 adults before and after a year of language classes. Text 2 The gains are real but modest, and the study's participants were people who chose to enrol in classes — a group likely to be unusually motivated and mentally active to begin with. Whether the same gains would appear in adults assigned to classes at random is not yet known.

Which choice best describes the relationship between the two texts?

  1. A. Text 2 accepts the finding in Text 1 but questions how far it applies to adults in general.Correct
  2. B. Text 2 denies that the study found any gains.
  3. C. Text 2 argues that language classes harm memory.
  4. D. Text 2 reports a larger study confirming the finding.

Answer: A. Text 2 accepts the finding in Text 1 but questions how far it applies to adults in general.

'The gains are real but modest'; the self-selected sample limits generalisation.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. Text 2 denies that the study found any gains.
Text 2 calls the gains 'real'.
C. Text 2 argues that language classes harm memory.
Nothing of the kind.
D. Text 2 reports a larger study confirming the finding.
Text 2 says the random-assignment version 'is not yet known'.

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