Logical reasoning PrepTest 119 · Section 2 · Question 11

Question prompt

Career consultant: The most 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

Errors in Reasoning Questions

Stimulus Summary

Opposing point - In your career, plays up strengths to employers and downplay differences
Conclusion - Don’t do this
Reason - Managers who are self-deprecating are viewed better than those who aren’t

Answer Anticipation

The argument here relies on a study, so we should start by considering a sampling flaw, and a correlation/causation flaw.
The study is used to rebut advice given to people in dealing with their employers. However, the study is of managers dealing with their employees - that’s a shift. Since the study speaks to a different group than the opposing point it’s meant to rebut, there is a sampling flaw that we can look for in the answer choices.
It also shifts from self-deprecating humor to discussing strengths/weaknesses. The Consultant focuses on one aspect of the managers’s statements - the self-deprecating nature of it - and not the other - the humor. It’s possible that the response was to the jokes and not the specific content of them!
The argument’s conclusion here rebuts a causal relationship, stating that you shouldn’t do something, so a correlation/causation answer is much less likely.

Answer choices

  1. A
    bases a conclusion about Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A matches the stem
    This answer highlights the shift between the groups in the premises and conclusions. The study discusses how employees respond to a manager who is self-deprecating, but the advice is on how employees should act when they want employers to respond positively. It speaks to the error in reasoning and is thus correct.
  2. B
    ignores the possibility that Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    The self-deprecation is actually what the Consultant seems to believe was the key part. After all, she’s using that self-deprecating humor to recommend against emphasizing strengths and hiding weaknesses, not in favor of making jokes. This answer is essentially the opposite of what the argument does.
  3. C
    ignores the possibility that Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    The conclusion is that a certain piece of advice - to play up strengths and hide weaknesses - is incorrect. In other words, you shouldn’t do it. Showing that something else might work better doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do something else that works, just not as well.
  4. D
    infers from the fact Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    The Consultant’s advice doesn’t bring the humor from the study, believing that the self-deprecating nature of the statements shows that playing up strengths and down weaknesses is bad advice. As such, she doesn’t assume that nonhumorous self-deprecation wouldn’t be viewed positively.
  5. E
    bases a conclusion about Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    Self-deprecating humor would necessarily not involve discussing strengths while highlighting weaknesses, so both parts are dealt with in the study provided.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A Credited 55%
  2. B 7%
  3. C 14%
  4. D 7%
  5. E 17%

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