Logical reasoning PrepTest 112 · Section 3 · Question 15

Question prompt

Environmentalists who seek stricter Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: A

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

Illustration Questions / Principle Questions

Stimulus Summary

If environmentalists oversell the dangers they talk about, then the public won’t take them seriously, even when they talk about a real problem, so they should be sure they have their facts straight.

Answer Anticipation

It’s great when these Principle questions conform to some common cliche or aphorism. In this case, the stimulus essentially warns the Environmentalists not to cry wolf.
Let’s find an answer that similarly has someone overstate a problem and then have issues convincing others that a problem exists in the future.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Middle–level managers who ask Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A matches the stem
    The argument here warns middle-level managers against crying wolf for needing more employees, because if it turns out they didn’t need them in one case, then they may not be listened to when they really need them in a future case. This answer illustrates the same principle as the stimulus, so this is the correct answer.
  2. B
    Politicians who defend the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    This argument falls more into the cliche that marketing/messaging matters.
  3. C
    People who are trying Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    This answer recommends an appeal to an emotion - almost the opposite of making sure that you get the facts straight!
  4. D
    Whoever wants to advance Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    This answer recommends that you convince people that your plan is in their self-interest.
  5. E
    Activists who want to Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    This answer is similar to (D) - make people believe that your argument is in their self-interest!

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A Credited 82%
  2. B 10%
  3. C 1%
  4. D 2%
  5. E 6%

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