Logical reasoning PrepTest 119 · Section 3 · Question 5

Incorrect. This is a fact that plays into the current, problematic situation that the author pivots away from. It's therefore a premise and not a part of the author's argument, so it can't be the main point.

Incorrect. This is a premise that supports the conclusion that the elderly should engage in psychotherapy.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Current situation: Age discrimination and perceived social stigma keep some elderly from psychotherapy.

Psychologist: They shouldn't be kept from it, because young people benefit from it and the elderly are better equipped to see those benefits.

Answer Anticipation:
When an opposing point is brought up in an argument, the author's opinion of it is almost always the main point of the argument. Here, there isn't an opposing point, but there is a situation that the Psychologist thinks should change.

Here, the Psychologist starts by bringing up what keeps some elderly people from trying psychotherapy—a situation with which she disagrees. She then shifts to say that this is wrong—they shouldn't be discouraged from trying it. Since that's an opinion of the opposing point, it's likely the main point—especially since it talks about what "should" happen, which generally happens only in conclusions.

The rest of the argument goes on to explain why that's the case (logically as the following statements are support for it, but also structurally since they're introduced with the premise indicator "for"), and so we should find an answer that reflects this opinion.

Answer Explanation:
This answer reflects the Psychologists opinion on the topic, so it's the main point of the argument.

Key Takeaway:
When the author pivots away from an argument or situation and states her opinion of it, that statement is almost always going to serve as the main point.

Incorrect. This is a paraphrase (and possibly a slight shift) of a premise in the argument, supporting the conclusion that the elderly shouldn't be afraid of psychotherapy.

Incorrect. The argument never actually states this. The closest it gets is saying that "some" elderly people feel discouraged in trying psychotherapy, but that's a part of the current situation that the Psychologist rails against, so it's not the main point. If anything, this is the "conclusion" of the "opposing point."