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Sufficient & Necessary Questions - - Question 35

Parents who wish to provide a strong foundation for the musical ability of their children should provide them with a ...

Shirnel March 13, 2020

The word "Since"

I understand that the word "since" introduces a premise, however whenever I am faced with this word it always confuses me as to how to diagram a set of facts or an argument. Can you please advise of a best practice? Can you also diagram this argument and explain the answer choice?

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AndreaK March 15, 2020

Hi @Shirnel,

There isn’t logic to diagram here.

We are told that parents who wish to provide a strong foundation for the musical ability of their children should provide them with a good musical education. Since (or, if it helps to see it as a premise better, think “because” instead of “since”) formal instruction is OFTEN part of a good musical education, ~therefore~ parents who wish to provide this strong foundation NEED to ensure that their children receive formal instruction.

The flaw is that just because something is OFTEN part of a good musical education, doesn’t mean that it’s NECESSARY to a good musical education. You could potentially still have a good musical education without formal instruction. That’s how we get to answer choice D.

Hope this helps! Feel free to follow up if you have anymore questions!