Some scientists have expressed reservations about quantum theory because of its counterintuitive consequences. But de...

Emil-Kunkin on January 24, 2023

Hi, the author decides that we should accept quantum theory because it's predictions have been proven accurate, which is untrue of its competitors.

Since this is a principle strengthen question, we are looking for something that will tell us that the authors conclusion is correct based on the evidence they presented. In this case, that would be that we should accept a theory if the reasoning the author presented is present.

C does not do this. C tells us that it should not be considered counterintuitive which was not the authors conclusion.

B, however, does give us a reason to accept the theory. It tells us that failing to discredit a theory, which quantum's opponents have tried and failed to do, is enough to accept it.

DevinFuller on June 28, 2023

it seems odd when it says "all" and the stimulus says "shown to be accurate within the generally accepted statistical margin of error." Thats what threw me off the scent of B. Did I just overlook it? Another question - can you explain why E is incorrect. Thank you!

Emil-Kunkin on June 29, 2023

Yeah that sounds like a bit of overthinking. The all is indeed a tad stronger than I'd have expected, but it does match the passage. The second sentence does seem to confirm that all of the attempts to disprove it failed, or at least, they confirmed quantum by the standards accepted by the discipline.

As to E, I think it gets the logic reversed. The passage is telling us that since we failed to disprove, we should accept it. In other words, if not disprove, then accept.

E reverses this. It tells us that we should accept only if failed to disprove, or in other words, if accept, then not disprove. It flips the sufficient and necessary terms.