History textbooks frequently need to be revised. The reasons for this

INFER
(B) text says that the past may be reinterpreted so that it is new and illuminating; not that it is constantly renewed;
(C) not enough info to infer this;
(D) not enough info to infer this;
(E) text says that one of the reasons history needs to be revised is because of unnoticed relationships among data, not that historians' mistaken inferences are caused by such.

Ans (A)

The answer is A in my opinion.

Premise: History textbooks frequently need to be revised. Why? Because of the following:
1. new discoveries of documents and remains
2. the discovery of mistaken inferences in prior histories
3. the discovery of previously unnoticed relationships among data
4. the application of hitherto undiscovered principles of natural science.
Premise: All of the above may indicate inadequacies in current history texts and any of these [four(4)] considerations may require that the past be reinterpreted in a manner that is new and more illuminating.

From the information above, four reasons that may cause a history textbook to revised are presented above. We are to use the information provided to determine which of the answer choices presents a piece of information that can be inferred from the information provided above.

A. The interpretation of historical events is affected by natural science. This can be inferred from the above information in line with point 4. This is the correct answer choice.

B. The past is constantly renewed because of illuminating reinterpretations. The word constantly renewed is extreme as far as the information provided above is concerned. The first premise, which can be taken as the conclusion of the argument states that history textbooks frequently need to be revised. Whether the revisions actually occurred or not cannot be determined from the argument. So we cannot infer B from the argument above.

C. History books are outdated as soon as they are written. Wrong inference. History textbooks only need to be revised when any of the four points mentioned above presents a justification for a review. It is extreme and incorrect to say that history textbooks are outdated as soon as they are written per the information provided in the argument.

D. Natural scientists also function as historians. There is no information provided in the argument above that suggests that natural scientists also function as historians. Wrong inference.

E. Historians’ mistaken inferences are caused by unnoticed relationships among data. This is not true. Mistaken inferences by historians are one of the reasons cited for the need to frequently review history textbooks, just as unnoticed relationships among data. There is no mention of a causal relationship between mistaken inferences and unnoticed relationships among data. E is therefore incorrect.

History textbooks frequently need to be revised. The reasons for this are clear: new discoveries of documents and remains, the discovery of mistaken inferences in prior histories, the discovery of previously unnoticed relationships among data, and the application of hitherto undiscovered principles of natural science all may indicate inadequacies in current history texts. Any of these considerations may require that the past be reinterpreted in a manner that is new and more illuminating.

Stimulus: The historical books are constantly changing due to new interpretations and new correlation between data. The past is being re-interpreted in a manner new and more illuminating. This means that history is constantly changing as it is being viewed in different light.

Which one of the following can be inferred from the argument in the passage?

(A) The interpretation of historical events is affected by natural science. Yes but this is partial inference
(B) The past is constantly renewed because of illuminating reinterpretations. Correct answer
(C) History books are outdated as soon as they are written. update can be anytime hence irrelevant
(D) Natural scientists also function as historians. cannot be inferred
(E) Historians’ mistaken inferences are caused by unnoticed relationships among data. Yes but this is partial inference

IMO B

A is clear but why E is eilminated ?

 

­Hello,
Even i selected the B, eliminating A by saying there are other factors affecting interpretation of historical events along with natural sciences. I understood now that inference doesn't mean it has to cover the whole information of the passage. Also, B is saying past is constantly renewed which is not mentioned anywhere in the passage. Passage says History books are revised frequntly and not the past.

Understanding the argument - ­
History textbooks frequently need to be revised. - Claim. 
The reasons for this are clear: new discoveries of documents and remains, the discovery of mistaken inferences in prior histories, the discovery of previously unnoticed relationships among data, and the application of hitherto undiscovered principles of natural science all may indicate inadequacies in current history texts. - Fact. 
Any of these considerations may require that the past be reinterpreted in a manner that is new and more illuminating. - Opinion. 

Which one of the following can be inferred from the argument in the passage?

(A) The interpretation of historical events is affected by natural science. - Yes. " natural science" is one of many factors mentioned in the argument. 
(B) The past is constantly renewed because of illuminating reinterpretations. - No. It is not "is," the argument says, "need to be," meaning it's required but is not happening now. Wrong. 
(C) History books are outdated as soon as they are written. - We don't know. A "might be a true" category is wrong, as we can't say with 100% confidence from the given premises. 
(D) Natural scientists also function as historians. - out of scope. 
(E) Historians’ mistaken inferences are caused by unnoticed relationships among data. - this causal relationship is not mentioned in the argument.