Logical reasoning PrepTest 112 · Section 1 · Question 10
Question prompt
Cotrell is, at best,
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
Errors in Reasoning Questions
Stimulus Summary
Cotrell is a mediocre writer, so the superior articles he wrote must be plagiarized, and thus he must be unable to write a better-than-average article.
Answer Anticipation
This argument is meant to prove that Cotrell is an average writer. However, the evidence it brings up - the superior article he’s written - seems to cut against that. The author gets around this by stating that the articles must be plagiarized. Why? Because Cotrell is an average writer.
So to prove Cotrell’s an average writer, the author relies on throwing out counterexamples because Cotrell couldn’t have written them since he’s an average writer. That’s using the conclusion to prove itself - an example of a rare Circular Reasoning flaw! Let’s find that answer.
Answer choices
-
AIt simply ignores the Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice A is not credited
The argument doesn’t ignore the counterevidence - those superior articles. It relies on them being plagiarized, so this answer doesn’t describe the argument. -
BIt generalizes from atypical Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice B is not credited
The atypical occurrences are the “few” articles Cotrell wrote that are superior, so generalizing from them would lead to a conclusion that he’s a superior writer. -
CIt presupposes what it Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice C matches the stem
This answer is the generic Circular Reasoning flaw answer, so it’s correct! To dispute counterexamples, the author relies on the conclusion being true - that Cotrell is an average writer. -
DIt relies on the Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice D is not credited
There are no experts mentioned in the stimulus, so this answer is out of scope. -
EIt infers limits on Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice E is not credited
The author establishes that most of Cotrell’s writings are average, and the “few” outliers are superior, not inferior. So relying on the “few isolated” instances would lead to a conclusion that Cotrell was a good writer. Another way of looking at this is the instances that suggest a limit on Cotrell’s ability are the majority of his “numerous articles,” and so this answer doesn’t describe the argument.
What this tests
Question analytics
Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.
Answer choice distribution
Accounts
Save your place across PrepTests
Bookmark questions, build weak-spot lists, and pick up exactly where you left off—built for serious repeat practice.
No payment yet. We will only email when accounts open.
Already have an account? Log in
Deeper help
Ask follow-ups on any step
Optional AI tutor mode will let you interrogate assumptions, compare answers, and drill weak patterns without leaving the page.
Human-written explanations stay primary; AI is an add-on when you want it.