A recent magazine editorial criticizes psychologists for not attempting to establish the order in which different are...

JeremyG on April 6, 2019

Hello, I am in the same situation as Trevor. Please explain!

Victoria on May 13, 2019

Hello @tlrz63 and @JeremyG

The passage states:
"A recent magazine editorial criticizes psychologists for not attempting to establish the order in which different areas of the brain are activated during a cognitive task such as imagining the face of a friend."

X criticized for not doing Y

"However, the editorial is unfair because there is currently no technology that can detect the order of activation of brain areas."

The criticism of X is not fair because it is not currently possible to do Y.

Therefore, the principle illustrated by the passage is that it is unfair to criticize a group for failing to do something if it is not currently possible to pursue that action.

A is incorrect as it does not conform to the above principle. A argues that the criticism of construction companies for using fewer layers of insulation is unfair because recent improvements in technology have allowed them to do so.

B is the correct answer in this case because it most closely conforms to the principle we have outlined above. It claims that the criticism of utility companies for not using nuclear fusion to power the nation is unfair because it is not possible to use nuclear fusion for power, even on a smaller scale. This directly conforms to the principle outlined in the passage that it is unfair to criticize a group for failing to do something if it is not currently possible to pursue that action.

Hope this is helpful! Let us know if you have any further questions.