Logical reasoning PrepTest 111 · Section 3 · Question 1

Question prompt

More and more computer Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: A

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

Computers do most of the math these days, so engineers should spend less time learning math and more time on other stuff.

Answer Anticipation

The question stem here explicitly tells us that the argument’s conclusion is a recommendation. When dealing with a recommendation, we’re generally looking to see that the argument establishes the criteria by which it’ll judge the best action, and then that it establishes the given recommendation meets that criteria.
However, this is a bit of a different type of recommendation. Instead of stating what should be done, the argument recommends against a given focus - one on math. Why? Because computer programs can do the math for engineers, so they should focus on other stuff.
When recommending against a course of action, we’re generally looking for the argument to show that not doing that thing won’t have any adverse effects. So if we’re looking to weaken an argument recommending that something not be done, we want to find that skipping over it will result in bad things. Let’s head to the answers to find that!

Answer choices

  1. A
    The effective use of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A matches the stem
    This answer highlights a problem with skipping math for engineers. If the programs doing the math for them require the person using them to understand math, then failing to learn mathematical principles has a big downside! This answer weakens the recommendation against teaching engineering students math, so it’s the correct answer.
  2. B
    Many of the computer Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    This answer strengthens the recommendation by showing that the reason for that recommendation isn’t something in the future - it’s already happening today.
  3. C
    Development of composites and Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    If anything, there being other important and new material to cover in engineering courses is an argument to cut from the curriculum what you can!
  4. D
    Most of the computer Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    Another answer that strengthens the recommendation by showing that the reasoning behind it is practical - the computer programs in question are usable by engineers at most firms.
  5. E
    The engineering curriculum already Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    If the engineers are already being taught how to use the computers, then that’s an argument against teaching them how to do the math that the computers are doing.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A Credited 97%
  2. B 2%
  3. C 1%
  4. D -100%
  5. E 1%

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