Logical reasoning PrepTest 111 · Section 1 · Question 2

Incorrect. This answer establishes that every scientific law hasn't been falsified, but it doesn't establish that anything that hasn't been falsified is a scientific law. It's a reversal of the principle we're looking for.

Incorrect. The argument concludes that this generalization is correctly considered a scientific law, and this answer justifies the opposite conclusion, so we can eliminate it.

Incorrect. The generalization in question has already been confirmed to the extent current science allows, and this answer can't justify a conclusion that considering something a scientific law is correct, so this answer can be ruled out.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen (Principle)

Stimulus Summary:
Judgment — A certain generalization is correctly considered a scientific law
Situation — The theory matches with all current testing and knowledge, but it hasn't been tested in every possible situation everywhere

Answer Anticipation:
Strengthen (Principle) questions generally make judgments in the conclusion that are backed up by a description of a situation, and the correct answer connects those details to the judgment.

Here, the judgment is that a certain generalization is correctly regarded as a scientific law. The details in some parts back this up—the generalization aligns with all current knowledge and technology. The details in some parts don't back this up—it hasn't been tested in every situation, in all parts of the universe. Since we're tasked with justifying the conclusion that it's correct to view the theory as a law, we want to focus on the former:
If a generalization matches up with all current knowledge/theory/technology, then it's correct to consider it a scientific law

The correct answer might also bring up that it can be considered a law even if it hasn't been tested under every possible situation, but that's not necessary for the correct answer.

Answer Explanation:
This answer establishes that the details of the situation guarantee the conclusion can be drawn. The generalization in question matches with all tests currently allowed by science, so it has been confirmed to the extent that current science allows. This answer guarantees that, under those facts, the generalization can be considered a scientific law, as the conclusion states.

Key Takeaway:
If you frame your understanding of Strengthen (Principle) questions as a judgment backed up by a description of a situation, you'll be able to find the answer that justifies the former based on the latter.

Incorrect. This answer is about what will happen to this generalization in the future, but it doesn't establish that it can currently be correctly considered a scientific law.