In an experiment, researchers played a series of musical intervals - two-note sequences - to a large diverse group of six-month old babies. They found that the babies paid significantly more attention when the intervals were perfect octaves, fifths, or fourths than otherwise. These intervals are prevalent in the musical systems of most cultures around the world. Thus, humans probably have a biological predisposition to pay more attention to those intervals than to others.

Which one of the following, if true most strengthens the argument?

Answer Choices

Correct answer marked below

Several similar experiments using older children and adults found that these subjects, too, had a general tendency to pay more attention to octaves, fifths, and fourths than to other musical intervals.

None of the babies in the experiment had previous exposure to music from any culture.

Correct

All of the babies in the experiment had been exposed to music drawn equally from a wide variety of cultures around the world.

In a second experiment, these same babies showed no clear tendency to notice primary colors more than other colors.

Octaves, fifths, and fourths were played more frequently during the experiment than other musical intervals were.

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What this question tests

What it tests

Whether you can identify the option that most bolsters an argument's conclusion.

Common trap

Choosing an option that is consistent with the argument but adds no new support, or that shifts the topic.