Logical reasoning PrepTest 111 · Section 3 · Question 4

Question prompt

For the next year, Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: C

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

Chefs’ Union - Wants a 10% raise
Managers’ Union - Wants an 8% raise
Conclusion - The Chefs’ Union is asking for a higher amount raise than the Hoet Managers’ Union

Answer Anticipation

Whenever you see an argument talking about percentages, you should check to see if it shifts between that and an amount. Just because a percentage is bigger doesn’t mean the amount will be. After all, 1% of a one million is a lot larger than 10% of one hundred!
Here, the premises of the argument are about the percentages the two unions are asking for in a raise. However, the conclusion is about the dollar amount of the requested raise. That’s a classic example of a Percentage vs. Amount flaw.
However, we’re tasked with strengthening this argument, not just pointing out the flaw. Here, the argument is using the higher percentage to justify a conclusion about a higher amount. For that to translate, we need to know that the starting points for the two salaries is about the same, or the chefs, on average, make more than the managers, thus making a percentage of that larger. Let’s find an answer establishing that.

Answer choices

  1. A
    The Chefs' Union has Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    Since the conclusion is about the average dollar amount increase, the argument has already accounted for membership differences, so this answer doesn’t affect the argument.
  2. B
    The Chefs' Union is Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    The conclusion is about the requested increases, not the actual increases that are likely to occur, so that likelihood is out of scope.
  3. C
    The current salaries of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C matches the stem
    This answer establishes that the chefs, on average, make more money, so a larger percentage increase would also represent a larger dollar amount increase. In providing the information needed to resolve the Percent vs. Amount flaw, this answer strengthens the argument.
  4. D
    The average dollar amount Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    Last years’ raises don’t affect this years, making this answer out of scope.
  5. E
    The members of the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    First, what has previously happened doesn’t determine what will happen. Second, even if the unions receive the requested increases this year, that doesn’t establish that the chefs are getting more money, on average, since we still have the Percent vs. Amount jump.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 7%
  2. B 2%
  3. C Credited 84%
  4. D 6%
  5. E 1%

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