Logical reasoning PrepTest 111 · Section 3 · Question 3

Question prompt

Opponents of peat harvesting Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: B

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 Questions

Stimulus Summary

Opponents: Peat harvesting would alter the wetlands, threatening the water supply
Author: Ireland has done it for centuries with no problems, so we can harvest peat safely.

Answer Anticipation

Remember - when we’re tasked with strengthening an argument in a stimulus with an opposing point, it’s the Author’s argument we’re meant to strengthen, not that opposing point.
So that means, here, we’re trying to strengthen the view that the opponents are wrong - that the country can safely harvest peat. Why does she believe that to be the case? Because another country - Ireland - has done it for centuries without the problem noted by the opponents.
Whenever an argument bases itself on another case, it’s assuming that that case is similar in relevant respects to the one in the argument. That means that here the Author assumes their country is relevantly similar to Ireland.
To strengthen this argument, then, we’re looking for any answer that establishes a relevant similarity between the two countries.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Over hundreds of years, Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    This answer doesn’t address whether the active change to the ecological balance through peat harvesting would pose a danger to the water supply.
  2. B
    The original ecology of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B matches the stem
    This answer establishes that the Irish ecology started off similar to the ecology of the country in question, and the peat harvesting hasn’t led to water contamination. That similarity makes it more likely that the country in question will similarly see no water contamination if they harvest peat, strengthening the argument.
  3. C
    The activities of other Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    The argument is about peat harvesting, not other industries, making this answer out of scope.
  4. D
    The peat resources of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    First, this answer brings up a difference, which, if anything, would weaken an argument based on similarities. Second, this difference isn’t definitively relevant - size of the peat resources could have no impact on the threat of contamination to water. So we have a possibly irrelevant difference - definitely not something that strengthens the argument!
  5. E
    The peat–harvesting industry of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    While this answer establishes that harvesting peat can have benefits, it doesn’t speak to whether this country can harvest peat without contaminating the water supply, as Ireland did.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 4%
  2. B Credited 92%
  3. C 2%
  4. D 1%
  5. E 1%

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Discussion

  • Why B not A 1 reply

    Started by Jasmin1

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