Yang: Yeast has long been known to be a leaven, that is, a substance used in baking to make breads rise. Since bibli...

Ravi on April 8, 2019

@Steph,

Happy to help.

(C) says, "denying the truth of Yang's conclusion without considering
the reason given for that conclusion"

The problem with (C) is that neither component of this answer choice
is correct. For one, Campisi doesn't deny the truth of Yang's
conclusion; rather, Campisi simply didn't agree with Yang's rationale
for his conclusion. Additionally, Campisi did actually consider Yang's
evidence, and he believed that it did not support the conclusion.

(B) says, "questioning the truth of a presumption underlying Yang's argument"

(B) picks up on exactly how Campisi counters Yang's argument. Yang
makes a whole to part flaw in his argument by presenting some evidence
that leavens existed in 1200 B.C. and concluding from this that a
single type of leaven, yeast, must have existed then. Campisi counters
Yang by pointing out that the leaven used in 1200 B.C. doesn't have to
be yeast. (B) picks up on how Campisi questions the presumption Yang
makes in assuming that evidence of a leaven is evidence for a single
type of leaven (yeast).

Does this make sense? Let us know if you have any other questions!

Meredith on October 28, 2019

Why not D? Still confused on why B is correct