Logical reasoning PrepTest 113 · Section 4 · Question 14

Question prompt

The fact that politicians 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

Valid or Flawed

Flawed

Question Type

Parallel Reasoning Questions

Stimulus Summary

More defense spending could be cut than scholarship spending
Therefore - The goal of reducing spending doesn’t explain the cuts to scholarships

Answer Anticipation

There’s no conditional logic in this Parallel Reasoning question, but there are a few elements that we can identify to create our anticipation.
First, the premise compares two things - potential defense spending cuts vs. potential scholarship spending cuts. The former is bigger than the latter.
However, the conclusion notes that the latter is what is being cut. That conclusion also establishes a goal - cutting government spending. Putting these together, the conclusion states that the goal can’t explain the cuts to the scholarship programs.
So in the answers, we should look for an argument that:
Establishes a goal Shows that one approach would better help reach that goal, but Another approach is the one being adopted, and Concludes that the goal can’t fully explain the adopted approach

Answer choices

  1. A
    The fact that Phyllis Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    This answer doesn’t really present a goal - in fact, the whole thing avoids saying anything about Phyllis’s goal.
  2. B
    The fact that Brooks Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    Brooks’s goal isn’t established here, nor are there two approaches he can choose between. Instead, he has two options that seem to have different goals (making money at a job; studying to do well in school).
  3. C
    The fact that Sallie Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    There’s arguably a goal here - working well together. However, only one means of achieving that goal is discussed - communicating more - so it’s not parallel to the stimulus.
  4. D
    The fact that Roger Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    This answer establishes a goal (getting more companionship, but it raises only one approach (adopting 10 cats…), so it’s not parallel.
  5. E
    The fact that Thelma's Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E matches the stem
    This answer has all the parts we identified in the stimulus. Thelma has a goal (fame), and two approaches (acting; writing/directing), the latter of which is better suited to her goal. She picks the other option, however, and the argument concludes that the goal can’t fully explain her choice. This answer is parallel to the stimulus, so it’s the correct answer.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 5%
  2. B 4%
  3. C 15%
  4. D 4%
  5. E Credited 72%

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