Logical reasoning PrepTest 103 · Section 1 · Question 15

Question prompt

Grow–Again ointment is a Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: C

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

Strengthen Questions

Stimulus Summary

Grow-Again helps regrow hair. Using more than the recommended dose doesn’t make it work better. So a rebate on the purchase price won’t increase sales/it’d be unprofitable.

Answer Anticipation

We’re tasked with strengthening an argument that makes a prediction in the conclusion - that offering a manufacturer’s rebate won’t increase sales of a product. Why does the author believe that to be the case? Because using more of the product doesn’t increase its effectiveness. How is that relevant? We should think through that! If people could use more product, how would the rebate help increase sales? Well, if it’s cheaper, and more of it is more effective, then people might buy more of it - thus spending the same amount on more product to increase the effectiveness. However, the argument establishes that more doesn’t increase effectiveness, and so people who are using it won’t buy more - if it’s cheaper, they’ll buy the same amount, for less money. So the argument shows that the rebate won’t entice current users to buy more. Is that the only way to increase sales? Nope - they could also attract new customers with a new, lower prices. The argument doesn’t address that possibility, but in stating that the rebate won’t increase sales, it’s assuming that won’t happen. Let’s see if we can find an answer stating that the rebate won’t attract new customers.

Answer choices

  1. A
    When using an ointment, Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    If anything, this answer weakens the argument. If people believe that more will be more effective, then the rebate might entice them to buy more, even if it doesn’t actually work. This undermines the rationale offered by the author for why the rebate won’t increase sales, so it weakens the argument.
  2. B
    Grow–Again is more effective Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    No matter how effective it is, it can’t be made more effective by using more, so this answer doesn’t change anything.
  3. C
    The rebate, if offered, Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C matches the stem
    This answer rules out a possibility that the argument fails to consider and that creates problems for the argument. If the rebate would attract new customers, then it might increase sales. By establishing that it won’t, the author’s prediction is thus strengthened.
  4. D
    Baldness in men can Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    These other causes of baldness are out of scope since Grow-Again treats hereditary baldness. If this answer said that the rebate might cause men with non-hereditary baldness to give Grow-Again a try (or not), then it might affect the argument - but it doesn’t.
  5. E
    Grow–Again is a product Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    This answer plays into the connection between increasing sales and profitability, showing that just selling more doesn’t lead to a cost savings. However, the crux of the argument is about increasing sales, so this answer doesn’t affect it.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 10%
  2. B 2%
  3. C Credited 74%
  4. D 1%
  5. E 13%

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