Logical reasoning PrepTest 117 · Section 4 · Question 21

Question prompt

A small car offers 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

Small car (vs. large car) - Less protection in an accident; more maneuverability, thus less likely to be in an accident.
Conclusion - Driving a small car is better than driving a large car.

Answer Anticipation

This argument is heavily reliant on comparisons, so we should view it through that lens and use the comparisons to help define a structure to find in the correct answer.
The conclusion here is that one option is “better” than another. This is based on two points of comparison, one that supports the preferred option by saying it makes a certain problem less likely, and one that goes against it by discussing the consequences in the case of the problem.
Therefore, we should look for an answer that similarly compares two options over two similar metrics, each of which supports a separate option, and then decides one benefit (the one that decreases the likelihood of the problem) is more important than the other, concluding that the option associated with that benefit is better.

Answer choices

  1. A
    An artist's best work Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    The conclusion here is causal, and the argument doesn’t compare two different options, so this answer isn’t parallel.
  2. B
    It is best to Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    This argument’s conclusion is about what is “best,” not the “better” of two options.
  3. C
    For this work, vehicles Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    This argument’s conclusion is about what option is “more practical,” not which option is better. Also, the points of comparison don’t discuss the outcome of a problem vs. the likelihood of the problem, so they’re different types of comparisons.
  4. D
    Although it is important Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    This argument is about moderation, not picking one option over another. (Moderation implies a spectrum of options.)
  5. E
    A person who exercises Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E matches the stem
    This answer presents two options - exercising vigorously every day or not doing so. The two options have different benefits, one of which has to do with the likelihood of facing a problem (a wasting disease), and the other with “surviving” a wasting disease. Then, the option selected as better (“one should” is equivalent to saying that the option you should do is better) is the one that decreases the likelihood of facing the problem. This argument matches the logic of the stimulus, so this is the correct answer.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 3%
  2. B 8%
  3. C 14%
  4. D 10%
  5. E Credited 64%

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