Logical reasoning PrepTest 106 · Section 1 · Question 15

Question prompt

The town of Springhill 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

Conclusion - Springhill discourages conservation
Why? - They charge a flat fee up to a threshold, and then a per-liter rate

Answer Anticipation

The stimulus here can be split into two parts, only one of which is relevant.
The first half talks about some background (Springhill declaring frequent water emergencies) and what Springhill could do to avoid it.
The second half starts with “Actually,” and it’s not until we get through it that we can determine the first half doesn’t matter. The reason for that is that this last sentence is the entire argument! The “Actually” pivots from how Springhill could avoid emergencies to a judgment on what Springhill is doing now, and the “because” tells us that we’re getting a premise supporting that conclusion.
So with our focus on that last sentence, we can analyze the logic. The conclusion is that Springhill discourages conservation, so we should figure out how the current plan aligns with conservation.
There are two parts to the plan. Below a threshold, everyone pays a flat fee. That means someone who uses no water pays the same amount as someone who uses water up to the threshold. That doesn’t promote conservation, as there’s no reason to use less water! However, after the threshold is met, people pay as they use water, which would encourage people to use less water - promoting conservation.
So Springhill’s current situation discourages conservation below the threshold but encourages it above the threshold. Since the conclusion is that it discourages conservation, the argument is relying on people, for the most part, staying below the threshold, so let’s find that as an answer.

Answer choices

  1. A
    The Springhill authorities do Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    This answer addresses the declared water emergencies which aren’t a part of the argument we’re attempting to strengthen.
  2. B
    The town council of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    What the town council has or hasn’t done is unrelated to whether they’re discouraging or encouraging conservation.
  3. C
    The threshold is kept Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C matches the stem
    This answer establishes that most people are below the threshold and are thus charged a flat rate for their water use. Since they pay the same amount no matter how much water they use, there’s no motive to conserve water, strengthening the conclusion that makes that judgment.
  4. D
    The threshold is not Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    Without knowing where the threshold is set in neighboring towns and how that compares to water use, this answer doesn’t add anything relevant to the conclusion.
  5. E
    The threshold remains at Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    How the threshold is set doesn’t speak to whether it’s encouraging conservation.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 11%
  2. B 5%
  3. C Credited 77%
  4. D 4%
  5. E 4%

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