Logical reasoning PrepTest 112 · Section 1 · Question 8

Question prompt

It has been claimed Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: D

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

Claim: TV stations should give equal time for opposing views when there’s disagreement.
Author: TV stations should give equal time for opposing views on social issues, not on science issues.
Why? Social issues are political and are rarely settled by existing evidence

Answer Anticipation

This argument takes on a rebuttal structure, but the rebuttal of the claim is only partial. While some believe that TV stations should give both sides equal time on issues where there are disagreements, the author believes that this obligation applies to social issues but not science ones.
Since the conclusion is that two things should be treated differently, we should analyze the premises through this comparative lens. However, the premises really only discuss the reason that social issues should have both sides evenly presented - they have political implications, and the issue is rarely settled with existing evidence.
Thus, in order to reach the conclusion that science issues should be treated differently, the argument is assuming that these issues don’t have political implications and are settled with existing evidence. To weaken this argument, then, we should find an answer stating that science issues are similar to social issues on these metrics.
Big picture? This argument concludes two things should be treated differently, and it’s relying on them having different characteristics. Thus, to weaken it, we should look for answers stating that they are similar.

Answer choices

  1. A
    No scientific issues raised Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    If the scientific issues don’t have political implications, then they’re different from social issues, which aligns with the author’s conclusion that they should be treated differently.
  2. B
    There are often more Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    The number of views doesn’t matter to the argument - it’s about giving those opposing views equal time, which can be done whether there are 2 or 7 views.
  3. C
    Some social issues could Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    The argument already accounts for this by stating that social issues “almost always” are important politically or can’t be settled.
  4. D
    Many scientific issues have Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D matches the stem
    This answer establishes a relevant similarity between social and scientific issues. If social issues should have all sides given equal time because they have political implications and can’t be resolved with available evidence, then those science issues for which this is true should also have all sides presented equally, contradicting the conclusion of the argument. This answer thus weakens the argument.
  5. E
    Some television networks refuse Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    If the networks aren’t broadcasting these issues at all, then the sides are given equal time (both sides are giving 0 time), which lines up with the argument.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 7%
  2. B 4%
  3. C 8%
  4. D Credited 79%
  5. E 2%

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