Logical reasoning PrepTest 112 · Section 3 · Question 10

Question prompt

Peter: Because the leaves Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: E

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Argument or Facts

Argument/Argument

Valid or Flawed

Flawed/Flawed

Question Type

Methods of Reasoning Questions

Stimulus Summary

P: Plants that lack a bit of water are tougher, so insects feed on well-watered plants. So to minimize damage, water plants just enough.
J: Yep. In fact, lacking water causes plants to make a pesticide.

Answer Anticipation

The question stem here asks us how Jennifer’s comments relate to Peter’s. Normally in these two-speaker stimuluses, we see the the second speaker rebut the argument made by the first speaker. Not so here! Jennifer starts with an agreement (“Indeed”), so she’s on board with Peter’s recommendation to water plants just enough to not hurt yields while ensuring that the threat of insect damage is minimized.
She goes on to add a separate reason for reaching that determination - these mildly drought-stressed plants create a pesticide, thus providing another means (other than insects not liking to eat tough plants) by which the recommendation will yield the desired outcome. Let’s find an answer stating that she agrees with his conclusion and brings up a separate reason for it.

Answer choices

  1. A
    It offers information that Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    While Jennifer does agree with Peter’s overall conclusion, she brings up a separate reason for doing so. As such, she doesn’t support each claim made by Peter since, for instance, the texture of the plants has nothing to do with what Jennifer says.
  2. B
    It supports Peter's argument Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    This answer, rephrased, says that Jennifer brings up a necessary premise. However, there’s no need for the plants to create pesticides for Peter’s argument to hold - there could be other reasons (such as insects not liking tough leaves) that would lead to the same conclusion.
  3. C
    It supports Peter's argument Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    Similar to (A), Jennifer brings up a separate reason to support Peter’s conclusion, so she doesn’t provide an explanation for Peter’s premises.
  4. D
    It supports one of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    Jennifer agrees with Peter’s conclusion (“Indeed”), so this answer is incorrect.
  5. E
    It supports the conclusion Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E matches the stem
    This answer correctly describes Jennifer’s response. She agrees with his conclusion (“Indeed”) while offering a separate reason to accept it (pesticidal toxins instead of tough leaves).

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 15%
  2. B 6%
  3. C 3%
  4. D 6%
  5. E Credited 70%

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Discussion

  • Correct answer 4 replies

    Started by sydneycrudo123

  • Why B? 2 replies

    Started by LizD

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