Logical reasoning PrepTest 103 · Section 1 · Question 4

Question prompt

In order to increase 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

Strengthen with Necessary Premise Questions

Stimulus Summary

Flextime improves morale, so if ABC implements flextime, they’ll increase production.

Answer Anticipation

Strengthen with Necessary Premise questions frequently introduce new concepts in the conclusion of the argument that need to be connected to a key concept in the premises. Here, the conclusion talks about increasing production. However, the premises don’t discuss production at all - instead, they focus on employee morale. The connection between the two is flextime, which has been shown to increase morale and is concluded as being something that will increase production. As such, the argument is assuming that increased employee morale will lead to increased production, so let’s find an answer establishing that.

Answer choices

  1. A
    the employees who prefer Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    This answer doesn’t directly address morale. Additionally, the argument still works even if those who are less productive enjoy flextime and thus become more productive as a result of being able to choose their schedule.
  2. B
    an increase in the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B matches the stem
    This answer connects the premise to the conclusion. The only effect we know of flextime is that it improves morale. If this can’t lead to an increase in production, then there’s no reason to believe the recommendation in the conclusion would lead to the desired outcome.
  3. C
    flextime schedules tend to Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    While this answer brings up some things that might play a role in production, it doesn’t directly connect the two. Additionally, even if it did, there’s no indication in the stimulus that eliminating these sources of decreased production are the only ways to increase production - in fact, increased morale is what is cited in the stimulus.
  4. D
    employees are most productive Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    If anything, this answer suggests that flextime might decrease production, cutting against the argument.
  5. E
    companies that are in Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    First, we don’t know anything about their level of production, so we can’t draw any conclusions about a connection between flextime and production. Second, what works at other companies might not work at ABC, so even if we did know these other companies had higher levels of production due to flextime, we don’t know the same would be true of ABC.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 2%
  2. B Credited 92%
  3. C 1%
  4. D 1%
  5. E 3%

Deeper help

Ask follow-ups on any step

Optional AI tutor mode will let you interrogate assumptions, compare answers, and drill weak patterns without leaving the page.

Human-written explanations stay primary; AI is an add-on when you want it.

Discussion

View all discussions Start a discussion