Question

A small group of law professors have suggested that the university's current JD program be restructured so students can spend more time reading case studies and studying independently since a wide knowledge of legal precedent is key to the success of its alumni. These professors are advocating an end to the public-speaking class requirement. But there is an obvious benefit to training young attorneys to speak confidently and articulately in court, and recent graduates of the program have remarked that they were frequently required to verbally describe case studies to colleagues.
Which of the following most logically concludes the argument?

• A. These law professors are incorrect in their assumption that more time reading case studies independently will lead to alumni success.
• B. Alumni success, therefore, is contingent upon an equal balance between public-speaking and reading case studies.
• C. Attorneys who cannot verbally articulate case studies will not have as much success in the workplace as those who can.
• D. Keeping the public-speaking class in the curriculum is not wholly inconsistent with the law professors' goal of fostering alumni success.
• E. The university should expand the public-speaking requirement, rather than omit it, as verbal skills are just as valuable as case study knowledge in the workplace.

Hint:

Look for conclusions that logically follow the argument's key points and emphasize the importance of all factors mentioned.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the argument.
The professors suggest restructuring the program to emphasize reading case studies over public speaking, but the passage highlights the importance of both skills for alumni success.

Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (A) This option doesn't logically follow because the argument doesn't reject the value of reading case studies.
- (B) This is the correct conclusion, as it stresses the importance of both reading case studies and public speaking for alumni success.
- (C) This is related to the importance of speaking skills but doesn't logically conclude the argument about balancing both skills.
- (D) This option partially addresses the issue but doesn't provide a clear conclusion about the necessity of balancing both skills.
- (E) This option calls for expanding the requirement, but the argument doesn't suggest it's about expanding the requirement specifically.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (B), as it logically concludes the argument by emphasizing the need for a balance between both public speaking and case study reading.