[问答] Why a conclusion can not be an opinion？ [复制链接]

richchanges
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电梯直达

楼主

发表于 2016-5-7 11:57:09 |只看该作者 |倒序浏览

Magoosh上面的一道分级是very hard的RC，直接看题吧：
Researchers, investigating the link between daily coffee consumption and learning, claim that subjects who consumed one cup of coffee a day for one week (the equivalent of 50 mg per day) exhibited improvements in declarative memory. Furthermore, the study revealed that such improvements were longer-lasting than those witnessed in a control group served decaffeinated coffee (decaffeinated contains negligible amounts of caffeine). After a week of learning a list of facts, the subjects who consumed one cup of coffee were able to recall these facts with significantly more accuracy.

While daily coffee consumption may aid in the process of forming a greater number of short-term memories, and increase the likelihood that these memories will be stored in long-term memory, the study glosses over an important fact. Many exhibit sensitivities to caffeine, including headaches (both migraine and non-migraine), sleeplessness, heightened anxiety and any number of factors that, when working either alone or in tandem, may actually lead to a decrease in the observed link between caffeine and learning. Nonetheless, despite the fact that the study represents a random sampling—and thus any number of subjects can exhibit any number of reactions to caffeine—if enough subjects continue to display signs of improvements in learning, then this result would not be inconsistent with the study’s findings. Still, until the researchers either release more details of this study, or subsequent studies are conducted, the extent to which those with caffeine sensitivity influenced the observed link between coffee consumption and memory will not be fully known.

Q:Select the sentence in which the author expresses an opinion towards the results of the study.

Magoosh给出的答案是这句：While daily coffee consumption may aid in the process of forming a greater number of short-term memories, and increase the likelihood that these memories will be stored in long-term memory, the study glosses over an important fact.

conclusion, opinion

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他必须超越这些命题，然后才能正确看世界。

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richchanges
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沙发

发表于 2016-5-7 12:01:51 |只看该作者

Text Explanation

The first sentence of the second paragraph, “While daily coffee…glosses over an important fact”, cites the author’s opinion of the study. The word "important" is worth noting. Whether or not the study is missing "important" facts is subjective. You can say objectively that the study doesn't include some information, but whether or not that's a problem is subjective.

The final sentence of the passage, in contrast, serves as a conclusion (which may or may not be correct) that includes no subjective detail, and therefore is not exactly an "opinion." It is a tempting choice, because it is the author's main argument, but it is not stated subjectively; it is meant to be a fact. An opinion, unlike a conclusion, would include an assessment of something, as in the above, where the study is said to be missing "important" facts.

Another way to think about this: a conclusion is likely to come, as the word implies, at the end of an argument. Conclusions are based on reason and facts. After describing key facts, a conclusion statement might be stated, as is the case in this passage. An opinion, in contrast, is a personally and subjectively held "conclusion" that doesn't necessarily rely on facts and reason. In this passage, the final sentence is a summation -- a conclusion -- of the information given in the preceding sentences. The "While daily coffee.." sentence, on the other hand, is at the beginning of the paragraph, with the relevant facts about the "glossed over" pieces coming after it, which is a good indication that's it's an opinion and not a conclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ: Why isn't the second to last sentence ("Nonetheless, despite the...") correct? I think that's a statement of an opinion.

A: Let's look at the penultimate sentence:

"Nonetheless, despite the fact that the study represents a random
sampling—and thus any number of subjects can exhibit any number of
reactions to caffeine—if enough subjects continue to display signs of
improvements in learning, then this result would not be inconsistent
with the study’s findings."
This sentence is certainly the author giving her or his own thoughts.
However, it isn't quite expressing an opinion toward "the results of the
study," which is what the question is asking about. Rather, the focus of the sentence is on considering a hypothetical: if enough subjects continue to display... The sentence is talking about further research and results, and how those might effect the results of the original study. Thus, this sentence is discussing a topic beyond the original study more than expressing an opinion directly about the study.

在这段解释里面，有这么一句话，区分conclusion 和 opinion：Conclusions are based on reason and facts. After describing key facts, a conclusion statement might be stated, as is the case in this passage. An opinion, in contrast, is a personally and subjectively held "conclusion" that doesn't necessarily rely on facts and reason.

我很困惑啊，conclusion也会是很subjective，而opinion也可以是based on facts，也可以在describe key facts以后，cast an opinion啊

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richchanges
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板凳

发表于 2016-5-7 12:02:35 |只看该作者

感觉这个问题，已经触及哲学层面了。。。。

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