Logical reasoning PrepTest 106 · Section 3 · Question 15

Question prompt

Human beings have cognitive 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

Weaken Questions

Stimulus Summary

When humans learn of their superior cognitive abilities, they’re happy only when these are being gratified.

Answer Anticipation

Last question, we ended up with a Main Point question that didn’t have an explicit conclusion. Now, we have a Weaken question that’s only a conclusion. What a weird set of questions!
The stem tasks us with weakening the view presented in the stimulus. That view is that humans who are aware of their superior cognitive abilities (compared to animals) “cannot be made happy” by anything other than “gratification of these faculties.”
That’s a very strong statement, and when such an absolute claim is made, a single counterexample can disprove it. Since that’s what we’re trying to do, let’s find an answer that brings up someone who knows of their superior cognitive faculties but is made happy by the gratification of other faculties.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Certain animals—dolphins and chimpanzees, Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    The stimulus doesn’t note that all human cognitive functions are present only in humans - just that they’re superior to those of other animals. That could mean that the functions are present in both species, but superior in humans.
  2. B
    Many people familiar both Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B matches the stem
    This answer brings up counterexamples to the claim made in the stimulus, weakening it. The claim in the stimulus is that humans aware of their superior cognitive abilities can be made happy only by something that gratifies these facilities. This answer establishes that some people are made happy not only by the gratification of cognitive faculties but also by physical pleasures.
  3. C
    Someone who never experienced Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    There’s no indication that pop music doesn’t gratify superior cognitive faculties!
  4. D
    Many people who are Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    First, this answer is about people who consider themselves happy, not those who are actually happy. Even if we accept that these individuals are actually happy, there’s no indication that it’s not from the gratification of their cognitive functions (either because sports require the gratification of them, or they’re happy for reasons other than the sports they play).
  5. E
    Many people who are Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    Gourmet food may very well satisfy superior cognitive functions - it’s possible that appreciating such food requires knowledge of cooking techniques.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 10%
  2. B Credited 74%
  3. C 2%
  4. D 8%
  5. E 5%

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

No threads yet—be the first to ask a question or share an approach.

View all discussions Start a discussion