Logical reasoning PrepTest 102 · Section 3 · Question 10

Question prompt

There are rumors that Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: B

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Argument or Facts

Argument

Valid or Flawed

Flawed

Question Type

Must Be True Questions / Principle Questions

Stimulus Summary

Rumors - The Cabinet will be reshuffled Each previous reshuffle had meetings before it that aren’t happening Therefore - The Cabinet probably isn’t being reshuffled

Answer Anticipation

This question stem asks us to find an answer that states a principle “employed” by the argument. Since we’re given an argument and asked to find a principle in the answer choices, this is best viewed as a Principle (Strengthen) question. As such, we should look for a judgment in the conclusion and then find out what details from the premises back it up. Here, the judgment is a prediction - the Cabinet is probably not being reshuffled. Why does the author believe that to be the case? Because something preceded each previous shuffle that didn’t happen this time (meetings). So the argument is relying on these meetings being a necessary step before the reshuffling, so let’s look for an answer reflecting that.

Answer choices

  1. A
    When a conclusion follows Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    The stimulus doesn’t discuss probability at all, and here, the premises are about things that have happened, and the conclusion is weaker than that in talking about what “most likely” is false.
  2. B
    A hypothesis is undermined Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B matches the stem
    A very convoluted answer! But let’s match elements up. Is there a hypothesis being undermined? Yes - that the Cabinet is about to be reshuffled. What’s expected to be the case if it were to be reshuffled? That there would have been meetings between the Premier and senior cabinet members, since they preceded all previous reshuffle. And the argument relies on that expectation not being met to say that the hypothesis is likely false. This answer very abstractly reflects the logic in the argument, so it’s the correct answer.
  3. C
    It is possible for Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    The available data doesn’t support the rumor, so this answer misses the mark.
  4. D
    Even if in me Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    While the argument does use the past to support a conclusion about the present, it doesn’t say that the past meetings were the cause of the reshuffle.
  5. E
    If two statements are Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    There aren’t two statements identified that are inconsistent with each other.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 23%
  2. B Credited 56%
  3. C 3%
  4. D 12%
  5. E 6%

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Discussion

  • Take for granted 1 reply

    Started by Lina.Aicha

  • Answer C Wording 1 reply

    Started by layah123

  • E 3 replies

    Started by ariella

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