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CAT 2017 Slot 2 — VARC Question 26

Main Point IdentificationEasy

The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the author’s position.

Both Socrates and Bacon were very good at asking useful questions. In fact, Socrates is largely credited with coming up with a way of asking questions, ‘the Socratic method’, which itself is at the core of the ‘scientific method’, popularized by Bacon. The Socratic method disproves arguments by finding exceptions to them, and can therefore lead your opponent to a point where they admit something that contradicts their original position. In common with Socrates, Bacon stressed it was as important to disprove a theory as it was to prove one-and real-world observation and experimentation were key to achieving both aims Bacon also saw science as a collaborative affair, with scientists working together, challenging each other.

Answer & solution

Correct answer: Both Socrates and Bacon advocated examining arguments and theories from both sides to prove them.

  • A

    Both Socrates and Bacon advocated clever questioning of the opponents to disprove their argument and theories.

  • B

    Both Socrates and Bacon advocated challenging arguments and theories by observation and experimentation.

  • C

    Both Socrates and Bacon advocated confirming arguments and theories by finding exceptions.

  • Both Socrates and Bacon advocated examining arguments and theories from both sides to prove them.

Solution

Easy

A para-summary question — find the central idea and reject options that distort or misattribute it. The paragraph's thrust: both Socrates and Bacon were masters of useful questioning, and both held that disproving a theory is as important as proving it — i.e., arguments must be examined from both sides. Watch for options that swap what belongs to one thinker onto the other, or that narrow the idea to a single method.

A

Option 1 — Distorts. It reduces both men to "clever questioning" used only "to disprove." The passage stresses useful questioning aimed at both proving and disproving — not merely clever questions for demolition. Eliminate.

B

Option 2 — Misattributes. "Observation and experimentation" was Bacon's emphasis (the scientific method), not something the paragraph credits to both. Pinning it on Socrates as well is inaccurate. Eliminate.

C

Option 3 — Reverses the logic. The Socratic method uses exceptions to disprove arguments, not to "confirm" them. This option says they found exceptions to confirm theories — the opposite of the passage. Eliminate.

D

Option 4 — Correct. Both thinkers "advocated examining arguments and theories from both sides" — capturing the shared point that disproving is as important as proving. This is the balanced central idea. Retain.

The best summary is option 4: both Socrates and Bacon advocated examining arguments and theories from both sides.

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CAT 2017 Slot 2 VARC Q26: The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the author’s — Solution | TheCATExam