Only four question
types allow for a
definitive
confirmation once
you have selected
an answer:
Assumption questions—use the Assumption Negation Technique. Justify questions—use
the Justify Formula. Evaluate the Argument questions—use the Variance Test. at Issue
questions—use the Agree/ Disagree Test.
Because of the specific nature of the correct answer choice, you can double check
answers by using the Agree/Disagree TestTM:
The correct answer must produce responses where one speaker would
say “I agree, the statement is correct” and the other speaker would say,
“I disagree, the statement is incorrect.” If those two responses are not
produced, then the answer is incorrect.
The Agree/Disagree Test crystallizes the essence of Point at Issue questions by
forcing you to concretely identify the elements that determine the correct
answer. Because the correct answer to a Point at Issue question can always be
proven by referring to the viewpoints stated in the stimulus, the Agree/Disagree
Test is actually a variation of the Fact Test expressly created for Point at Issue
questions.
After trying the Agree/Disagree Test, some students become enamored of the
technique and want to apply it to every answer choice. This is an overuse of the
technique! Like other “litmus tests” for answer choices (such as the Assumption
Negation Technique and the Variance Test), the Agree/Disagree Test is designed
to either confirm you have selected the correct answer choice or to decide
between two or three remaining answer choices. Applying the Agree/Disagree
Test to every answer choice will produce the correct answer, but the process
will take too much time. Use the Test judiciously.
Consider the following problem:
1. Shanna: Owners of any work of art, simply by virtue of ownership, ethically have the right to destroy that artwork if they find it morally or aesthetically distasteful, or if caring for it becomes inconvenient.
Jorge: Ownership of unique artworks, unlike ownership of other kinds of objects, carries
the moral right to possess but not to destroy. A unique work of art with aesthetic or
historical value belongs to posterity and so must be preserved, whatever the personal
wishes of its legal owner.
On the basis of their statements, Shanna and Jorge
are committed to disagreeing about the truth of
which one of the following statements?
(A) Anyone who owns a portrait presenting his or
her father in an unflattering light would for
that reason alone be ethically justified in
destroying it.
(B) People who own aesthetically valuable works
of art have no moral obligation to make
them available for public viewing.
(C) Valuable paintings by well-known artists are
seldom intentionally damaged or destroyed
by their owners.
(D) If a piece of sculpture is not unique, its owner
has no ethical obligation to preserve it if
doing so proves burdensome.
(E) It is legally permissible for a unique and
historically valuable mural to be destroyed
by its owner if he or she tires of it.
Shanna argues that ownership of art conveys absolute power to the owner, and
such power includes and allows for the destruction of artwork for any reason.
Jorge asserts that ownership of artwork carries certain restrictions when the art
is unique, has aesthetic value, or has historical value, regardless of the wishes of
the owner. This is clearly an ethical disagreement in which the speakers
disagree on what rights ownership conveys to the owner. The question stem
asks you to select a statement about which the two speakers will disagree,
which is not necessarily the same as identifying the point at issue.
As mentioned in this chapter, certain types of incorrect answers tend to appear
in Point at issue questions:
Because the argument revolves around an ethical issue, wrong answers will
often bring up factual issues. Answer choices (C) and (E) are two such
answers. Answer choice (C) states that valuable paintings are seldom
destroyed by their owners. Whether or not this occurs is a factual issue that
can be determined by examining records, etc. Answer choice (E) discusses
the legal permissibility of destroying a valuable mural. Whether or not it is
legally permissible to destroy the mural is also a factual issue, not a moral
issue.
Other wrong answer choices will supply statements that both speakers
would agree with, or that both speakers would disagree with. Answer
choice (D) is incorrect because both speakers would agree with the
statement. Shanna would agree because her ownership beliefs allow for the
destruction of any owned artwork. Jorge would agree because the sculpture
in question is not unique, and thus does not meet the qualifications Jorge
imposed in his argument. If both speakers have the same opinion about an
answer choice, then that answer choice must be wrong in a Point at Issue
question.
With the elimination of answer choices (C), (D), and (E), only answers (A) and
(B) remain.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer because Shanna would agree
with the statement and Jorge would disagree with the statement. The key to
answer choice (A) is the phrase “for that reason alone.” According to Shanna,
ownership of the portrait automatically allows the owner to destroy the artwork
for any reason. Thus, disliking the portrait is sufficient justification for
destruction. However, for Jorge the art would also have to be proven nonunique,
non-aesthetically valuable, and non-historically valuable before he
would justify its destruction. Thus, answer choice (A) passes the Agree/
Disagree Test where one speaker says “I agree, the statement is correct”
regarding the statement and the other speaker says, “I disagree, the statement is
incorrect” regarding the answer choice.
Answer choice (B): This answer is incorrect because it discusses the obligation
to make artworks available for public viewing, which is not mentioned in the
stimulus.
Let us continue examining answer types in Point at Issue questions. Please take
a moment to complete the following problem:
types allow for a
definitive
confirmation once
you have selected
an answer:
Assumption questions—use the Assumption Negation Technique. Justify questions—use
the Justify Formula. Evaluate the Argument questions—use the Variance Test. at Issue
questions—use the Agree/ Disagree Test.
Because of the specific nature of the correct answer choice, you can double check
answers by using the Agree/Disagree TestTM:
The correct answer must produce responses where one speaker would
say “I agree, the statement is correct” and the other speaker would say,
“I disagree, the statement is incorrect.” If those two responses are not
produced, then the answer is incorrect.
The Agree/Disagree Test crystallizes the essence of Point at Issue questions by
forcing you to concretely identify the elements that determine the correct
answer. Because the correct answer to a Point at Issue question can always be
proven by referring to the viewpoints stated in the stimulus, the Agree/Disagree
Test is actually a variation of the Fact Test expressly created for Point at Issue
questions.
After trying the Agree/Disagree Test, some students become enamored of the
technique and want to apply it to every answer choice. This is an overuse of the
technique! Like other “litmus tests” for answer choices (such as the Assumption
Negation Technique and the Variance Test), the Agree/Disagree Test is designed
to either confirm you have selected the correct answer choice or to decide
between two or three remaining answer choices. Applying the Agree/Disagree
Test to every answer choice will produce the correct answer, but the process
will take too much time. Use the Test judiciously.
Consider the following problem:
1. Shanna: Owners of any work of art, simply by virtue of ownership, ethically have the right to destroy that artwork if they find it morally or aesthetically distasteful, or if caring for it becomes inconvenient.
Jorge: Ownership of unique artworks, unlike ownership of other kinds of objects, carries
the moral right to possess but not to destroy. A unique work of art with aesthetic or
historical value belongs to posterity and so must be preserved, whatever the personal
wishes of its legal owner.
On the basis of their statements, Shanna and Jorge
are committed to disagreeing about the truth of
which one of the following statements?
(A) Anyone who owns a portrait presenting his or
her father in an unflattering light would for
that reason alone be ethically justified in
destroying it.
(B) People who own aesthetically valuable works
of art have no moral obligation to make
them available for public viewing.
(C) Valuable paintings by well-known artists are
seldom intentionally damaged or destroyed
by their owners.
(D) If a piece of sculpture is not unique, its owner
has no ethical obligation to preserve it if
doing so proves burdensome.
(E) It is legally permissible for a unique and
historically valuable mural to be destroyed
by its owner if he or she tires of it.
Shanna argues that ownership of art conveys absolute power to the owner, and
such power includes and allows for the destruction of artwork for any reason.
Jorge asserts that ownership of artwork carries certain restrictions when the art
is unique, has aesthetic value, or has historical value, regardless of the wishes of
the owner. This is clearly an ethical disagreement in which the speakers
disagree on what rights ownership conveys to the owner. The question stem
asks you to select a statement about which the two speakers will disagree,
which is not necessarily the same as identifying the point at issue.
As mentioned in this chapter, certain types of incorrect answers tend to appear
in Point at issue questions:
Because the argument revolves around an ethical issue, wrong answers will
often bring up factual issues. Answer choices (C) and (E) are two such
answers. Answer choice (C) states that valuable paintings are seldom
destroyed by their owners. Whether or not this occurs is a factual issue that
can be determined by examining records, etc. Answer choice (E) discusses
the legal permissibility of destroying a valuable mural. Whether or not it is
legally permissible to destroy the mural is also a factual issue, not a moral
issue.
Other wrong answer choices will supply statements that both speakers
would agree with, or that both speakers would disagree with. Answer
choice (D) is incorrect because both speakers would agree with the
statement. Shanna would agree because her ownership beliefs allow for the
destruction of any owned artwork. Jorge would agree because the sculpture
in question is not unique, and thus does not meet the qualifications Jorge
imposed in his argument. If both speakers have the same opinion about an
answer choice, then that answer choice must be wrong in a Point at Issue
question.
With the elimination of answer choices (C), (D), and (E), only answers (A) and
(B) remain.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer because Shanna would agree
with the statement and Jorge would disagree with the statement. The key to
answer choice (A) is the phrase “for that reason alone.” According to Shanna,
ownership of the portrait automatically allows the owner to destroy the artwork
for any reason. Thus, disliking the portrait is sufficient justification for
destruction. However, for Jorge the art would also have to be proven nonunique,
non-aesthetically valuable, and non-historically valuable before he
would justify its destruction. Thus, answer choice (A) passes the Agree/
Disagree Test where one speaker says “I agree, the statement is correct”
regarding the statement and the other speaker says, “I disagree, the statement is
incorrect” regarding the answer choice.
Answer choice (B): This answer is incorrect because it discusses the obligation
to make artworks available for public viewing, which is not mentioned in the
stimulus.
Let us continue examining answer types in Point at Issue questions. Please take
a moment to complete the following problem:
