Logical reasoning PrepTest 101 · Section 3 · Question 2

Incorrect. The argument never uses sufficient/necessary (conditional) language, so this answer describing an illegal reversal is out of scope.

Incorrect. The argument connects dryness with lines/cracking, in both skin and the earth. It doesn't bring in a third thing that causes both of those.

Incorrect. There's no discussion of what people believe—just because the argument is trying to convince people of something doesn't mean that it's jumping between perception and reality! This answer would be correct if it said that after using Dewyfresh, people became convinced that it was moisturizing, so it must, in fact, be moisturizing.

Incorrect. First, both instances of "infusion" in the stimulus are discussing the same thing—an infusion of a liquid being made into something. Second, even if it swapped between those two definitions, they're very closely related, so it's unlikely that the switch would be a flaw.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Errors in Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
The earth gets lined and cracked during a drought, so you should moisturize your skin (with Dewyfresh).

Answer Anticipation:
In Errors in Reasoning questions, we want to look for elements that are often associated with flawed logic. When there's a central feature of an argument that is often associated with a flaw, that's where we should start.

Here, the argument relies on a comparison/analogy between skin and the earth. However, there's no indication that skin and the earth react in the same way to a lack of moisture. There's also no indication that failing to moisturize makes skin as dry as a drought makes the earth.

When an argument relies on a comparison that doesn't establish the two things being compared are sufficiently similar, it features an Equivocation flaw (ignoring potentially relevant differences when saying things are similar). Let's find an answer pointing that out.

Answer Explanation:
This answer highlights the flaw in the argument. It relies on an analogy between the earth and skin, but it doesn't show that they're sufficiently similar in all relevant aspects to justify the conclusion.

Key Takeaway:
In an Errors in Reasoning question, look for prominent logic features. They're almost always related to the flaw in the argument. Here, the argument was essentially entirely an analogy, and recognizing that would lead you straight to the correct answer.