Logical reasoning PrepTest 102 · Section 2 · Question 4

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen

Stimulus Summary:
Problem - Photocopying technology allows people to easily copy money, including money made with microprinting, that can't be spotted by most people
Solution - Special ink that can't be photocopied and can be spotted by most people
Problem with the solution - The ink is expensive
Conclusion - Swap to the ink despite the expense

Answer Anticipation:
The stimulus here features a few elements that we should focus on in spotting the flaw in this argument to work with. It presents a problem (counterfeiting) and a couple solutions (microprinting; ink), compares those solutions (ink is more expensive but more effective), and then recommends the adoption of one solution (ink) despite the problem with it (expense).

Whenever an argument makes a recommendation, it needs to establish the criteria for making that call and compare the potential solutions over those criteria. Here, the argument does compare the two solutions on two metrics, but it never establishes how the recommendation between them should be made! The ink is more effective, but it's more expensive—so the argument is assuming that the effectiveness is more important than the expense.

As such, we should look for an answer establishing that that's the more important criteria, or providing evidence of that.

Answer Explanation:
This answer doesn't establish the criteria by which the decision between the solutions would be made, but it does shift the points of comparison. The ink was more expensive than microprinting, but this answer suggests that microprinting has a significant cost that the ink doesn't have and that wasn't factored into that comparison—the cost of experts to detect it. If that's the case, then the cost differential isn't a point against the ink over the microprinting anymore, and if that's the case, then going with the more effective ink is more likely the right move. That strengthens the conclusion, so this is the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
When making a recommendation for one option over another, an argument needs to compare those options and then provide the criteria by which the recommendation will be made. When the criteria is missing, the correct answer will frequently establish that criteria. However, it can also add more information comparing the two options on criteria that could serve as decisive.

Incorrect. There's no discussion of the method of detecting counterfeits being kept secret here, so this answer is out of scope. It raises a point of comparison that we don't have a basis to analyze for the two solutions mentioned!

Incorrect. The number of steps aren't inherently related to cost or difficulty. Making a PB&J sandwich has more steps than shooting a basket from half court, but the latter is more difficult!

Incorrect. The stimulus argues in a world where advanced photocopying technology exists, so this answer about a time before that is out of scope.

Incorrect. The stimulus establishes that many criminals do have access to such technology, so it doesn't matter that others don't.