Logical reasoning PrepTest 107 · Section 4 · Question 8

Question prompt

Conservationist: The population of 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

Strengthen with Necessary Premise Questions

Stimulus Summary

Problem - A wildflower is headed for extinction
Solution - Cross-pollinating with a daisy
Problem with solution - The hybrid flower would be different from the wildflower
Opinion - That’s better than losing the wildflower altogether
Conclusion - The daisy should be cross-pollinated with the wildflower

Answer Anticipation

This argument falls into a common pattern - a Problem/Solution pattern. It features a pretty interesting variation on it, though! Let’s dive in and see.
Here, the Conservationist notes a problem - the wildflower is going extinct. She also puts forward a solution - cross-pollinating it with a daisy. However, there’s a problem with this solution - the resulting hybrid will be “markedly” different from the wildflower.
Normally, when the author calls out a problem with a proposed solution, it’s either to conclude that the solution won’t work, or to put forward another solution. Here, however, is where the interesting variation to the normal pattern shows up. Instead, she argues that, while the problem with the solution is real, it’s better to accept that problem than to lose the wildflower to extinction (the starting problem).
So, in short, the Conservationist argues that the initial problem is bigger than the one with the solution, and so the solution should be implemented. That relative weighting of the two problems is the crux of her argument, so let’s find an answer that addresses that balance.

Answer choices

  1. A
    The wildflower currently reproduces Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    The argument requires that the wildflower can reproduce by forming seeds, so that the hybrid seeds can be developed. It doesn’t require that the wildflower reproduce only by forming seeds.
  2. B
    The domesticated daisy was Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    The daisy’s ancestors are out of scope. What matters is that it can be cross-pollinated with the wildflower, and the argument has already established that that’s true.
  3. C
    Increasing the population of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    The Conservationist cares only that the wildflower survives, not that it expands its range.
  4. D
    Wildflower–daisy hybrids will be Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D matches the stem
    If the hybrids can’t reproduce, then creating them isn’t a viable way to prevent the widlflower’s extinction. This answer establishes that the Conservationist’s solution is a viable one, which is necessary for the argument to work, so this is correct.
  5. E
    The domesticated daisy will Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    The argument requires only that it cross-pollinate with the wildflower, not any daisylike plant.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 9%
  2. B 1%
  3. C 7%
  4. D Credited 80%
  5. E 3%

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