Logical reasoning PrepTest 111 · Section 4 · Question 1

Incorrect. The deepest level of mathematical understanding is abstract, not imagistic/pictorial, so this answer is supported by statement #3.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Bizarro Must be True . . . ish

Stimulus Summary:
(1) Teachers make it easier to learn geometry by using illustrations, which helps people learn to manipulate symbols
(2) Teaching algebra the same way would be "equally good"
(3) The "deepest" math understanding is abstract

Answer Anticipation:
First, the question stem. This is a bit of a wonky one. It's not really a Bizarro Must be True because the incorrect answers have "some support"—that's weaker than even a Most Strongly Supported stimulus. However, the correct answer will not have support—which isn't the same as being contradicted, so this isn't a Cannot be True question. Instead of agonizing over the question type, let's just know that we're looking to rule out answers that have some support in the stimulus while picking an answer that doesn't have support.

And since four of these answers will have some support, it's likely that all statements will play a role in making these eliminations. As such, we should identify what elements in this stimulus are likely to be used as support.

The opening line is a causal comparison—one thing makes another easier. That's likely to support some answers. The second statement is a comparison, and a pretty specific one—two things are "equally" effective. And the final statement (not sentence; the second half of the second sentence) is also a strong comparison, telling us what the "deepest" mathematical understanding involves (abstract knowledge), also likely to be relied on for an answer.

With these statements in mind, and with knowledge of what the question is asking, let's head to the answers.

Answer Explanation:
We know that manipulating symbols is a skill involved in math since the benefit of using pictures to teach geometry is that it helps teach that skill. However, that doesn't mean that anyone with that skill is good at math—the stimulus doesn't establish the skill as either sufficient or necessary for math! As such, this answer isn't supported by the stimulus and is thus the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
For any Bizarro question that's in the Must be True world (even if not a Must be True question), it's more important to have a solid idea of the various statements, as most or all of them will play a role in allowing you to eliminate answers, than anticipating specific answers that have support (as there are four of them).

Incorrect. Statement #1 says that teachers use illustrations to enable students to learn something more easily, making it an effective teaching method.

Incorrect. Statement #1 says that using illustrations makes it easier to learn to manipulate symbols to calculate things, and this makes learning geometry easier, supporting this answer.

Incorrect. The stimulus notes that illustrating mathematical concepts graphically in both geometry and algebra can be pedagogically effective, supporting this answer.