Logical reasoning PrepTest 109 · Section 4 · Question 13

Incorrect. This answer establishes that getting people to pay more attention to their driving and less attention to their car phones would increase safety, but it doesn't establish that that's a reason to pass a bill leading to that into law.

Incorrect. This answer establishes that legislation would be necessary to address this issue, but it doesn't establish that the issue needs to be addressed, so it falls short of justifying the recommendation to pass the law.

Incorrect. This answer restates something already established in the stimulus.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen with Sufficient Premise question

Stimulus Summary:
Using a car phone is a distraction, which reduces driving safety. Making it illegal will deter people from it.
Recommendation - A law banning car phones should be passed.

Answer Anticipation:
This Strengthen with Sufficient Premise question makes a recommendation ("should") in its conclusion. When an argument concludes a recommendation, it needs to establish a goal and show that the recommended action is best able to achieve that goal.

Here, the action is passing a law banning the use of car phones. The Politician establishes that this action will deter people from engaging in an action that leads to unsafe driving. However, it never establishes that that's a sufficient reason or goal for passing a law! While that may seem like common sense, there are plenty of ways to increase safety that end up not being passed into law—either because they reduce freedom, or they cost too much, or there's another compelling reason not to pass it.

Since this argument fails to establish the goal or what factors play into whether a bill should be passed, the correct answer will need to do so. Let's find an answer stating that any law which would increase driving safety should be passed.

Answer Explanation:
This law reduces a threat to public safety by removing a source of distraction to drivers, which will increase their safe driving. As such, this answer establishes that it should be adopted, and so it allows the conclusion to follow logically.

Key Takeaway:
Recommendations require premises that establish the goal/criteria under which the recommendation can be made, and enough information to determine that the recommended action best helps achieve those goals. In a Strengthen with Sufficient Premise question where either of those pieces is missing, the correct answer will provide it.

Incorrect. The argument is about a bill banning people from using a car phone while driving, so what is true when others use a car phone is out of scope.