Logical reasoning PrepTest 106 · Section 2 · Question 5

Question prompt

A newly developed light Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: D

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

Bizarro / Strengthen Questions

Stimulus Summary

New invention - A light bulb that costs 3x as much but lasts 10x as long Manufacturer - Intensely publicizing the bulb Prediction - It won’t sell well

Answer Anticipation

In this Bizarro Strengthen question, we’re looking to eliminate any answer that strengthens the Analyst’s prediction that the new bulb - which costs 3x more but lasts 10x as long - won’t sell well. We do get a benefit of the new bulb - it’s economical over the long term. So in order to strengthen an argument that it won’t sell well, we need to find downsides of it. First off, it’s possible that people don’t consider the long-term when buying bulbs - they’d rather just get a cheap replacement. Outside of that, though, we’re a bit in the dark (pun intended). So let’s head to the answers looking to eliminate any downside of the new bulb, or a reason that people might be turned off by the high initial price (or don’t think they’ll realize the long-term savings).

Answer choices

  1. A
    The light generated by Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    This answer brings up a downside of the new bulb - people don’t like the color of light it produces. That would explain it not selling well.
  2. B
    Most people who purchase Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    This answer shows that people don’t buy bulbs that have the long-term upside of the new bulb, thus strengthening the prediction that it won’t sell well. It undercuts the benefit of the new bulb!
  3. C
    A manufacturer of one Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    If people believe that the bulb will cost more in electricity costs, then they might not think it’ll save them money despite its durability, and so they might not purchase it. This strengthens the prediction.
  4. D
    The new bulb is Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D matches the stem
    If anything, providing flexibility in how many to purchase at a time would be an upside that might suggest people would be more willing to buy them. It certainly doesn’t cut against people buying the new bulb, so this doesn’t strengthen the prediction and it is therefore the correct answer.
  5. E
    A competing manufacturer is Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    This bulb lasts longer but costs more. If another bulb lasts longer but costs less, then it’s likely people would buy that bulb over either other alternative, strengthening the prediction that one of those alternatives won’t sell well.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 4%
  2. B 2%
  3. C 3%
  4. D Credited 86%
  5. E 4%

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