Question 17

It articulates a principle that supports the claim made in the preceding sentence.

The highlighted sentence explains that paranormal phenomena are more likely to occur in situations of strong emotion, which supports the claim that these events are not observable in controlled scientific settings. This principle directly reinforces the argument about the nature of the evidence collected by the Society for Psychical Research.

A) It states the main conclusion of the author's argument.

This option is incorrect because the highlighted sentence does not serve as the main conclusion; rather, it supports a specific claim regarding the relationship between emotional states and the occurrence of paranormal phenomena, which is part of the broader argument.

B) It provides a basis for a recommended course of action.

This choice is not applicable as the highlighted sentence does not suggest any course of action. Instead, it merely articulates a principle that explains why the paranormal phenomena cannot be observed under controlled conditions, without implying any recommendations.

C) It articulates a principle that supports the claim made in the preceding sentence.

This is the correct answer, as the highlighted sentence lays out a key principle regarding the occurrence of paranormal phenomena in emotional contexts, thereby supporting the preceding claim about the challenges of observing these events scientifically.

D) It is intended to undermine the credibility of apparent evidence that the author has mentioned earlier in the passage.

This option is incorrect because the highlighted sentence does not seek to undermine the credibility of the evidence; rather, it explains a condition under which the evidence may manifest, thereby contextualizing it rather than discrediting it.

E) It serves to emphasize a limitation of the evidence collected by the Society for Psychical Research.

While this option may seem relevant, it is not the best description of the highlighted sentence's role. The sentence focuses more on explaining the conditions under which paranormal events may occur rather than explicitly emphasizing limitations of the evidence.

Conclusion

The highlighted sentence clearly articulates a principle that connects emotional experience with the manifestation of paranormal phenomena, thereby supporting the preceding claim about the nature of the evidence. Other options either misinterpret the function of the sentence or mischaracterize its role in the broader argument, confirming that C is indeed the most accurate choice.