Logical reasoning PrepTest 107 · Section 1 · Question 24

Question prompt

Automobile–emission standards are enforced 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

Weaken Questions

Stimulus Summary

Inspection process - Idle the car and measure exhaust gases
(Question conclusion - This process won’t help control pollution)

Answer Anticipation

This is a weird question stem. The stimulus presents just a process, and the view that we’re meant to address is in the question stem. That conclusion is written into our summary in brackets to highlight that it’s not in the stimulus itself.
Since the structure here is a little weird, you could have viewed this as a few different question types, though we think there are two that are “correct.” It would have been most helpful to view this as a Strengthen question, where you’re meant to strengthen the conclusion that the current inspection process doesn’t work to control pollution. Or you could have viewed this as a Weaken question, where you’re arguing against the efficacy of the current system. Either would have been fine, and this should show you how close the tasks are in Strengthen and Weaken questions!
With that noted, what do we learn about the inspection process? Really, only that it’s done while the car is idling. If we want to show that this is an ineffective way of ensuring that the cars aren’t polluting too much, we should look for an answer stating that a idling car’s exhaust is different (and lower in pollutants) than a moving car.

Answer choices

  1. A
    As an emission–control technology Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    The expense doesn’t speak to whether it’s effective to begin with, let alone whether measuring effectiveness while the car is idling properly measures pollutants.
  2. B
    The testing devices used Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    Since there’s no indication that the devices aren’t frequently recalibrated to ensure accuracy, this answer doesn’t call their accuracy into question.
  3. C
    The adjustments needed to Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C matches the stem
    This answer is a shift from our anticipation, but it’s in the same world of discussing an idling car. If the cars are adjusted to pass inspection by focusing on idling cleanly, then this answer establishes that they’ll release more pollutants while driving. If that’s the case, then the current inspection process is going to result in cars that idle cleanly but drive dirty - suggesting that the current inspection process will be ineffective at controlling overall pollutant levels. This answer is therefore correct.
  4. D
    Most car owners ask Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    This answer is about emission standards, not the inspection designed to see if cars are compliant with it. If anything, in stating that people try to comply with the standards (and not that they try just to pass inspection), this suggests that inspection doesn’t really matter that much, not that they’ll be ineffective at controlling pollution!
  5. E
    When emission standards are Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    The age of the car is out of scope of the argument.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 5%
  2. B 6%
  3. C Credited 84%
  4. D 2%
  5. E 3%

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