Logical reasoning PrepTest 119 · Section 3 · Question 8

Incorrect. Certain leaders of recording sessions are mentioned in the stimulus, but it's the ability of the individuals who had no striking musical ideas to respond to these leaders that's discussed, not the ability of the leaders to recognize the weaknesses of those being led. This answer is out of scope.

Incorrect. This answer is too strong in stating that the situation in jazz applies to "any great work." A generalization from a single case needs to be weak to be supported.

Incorrect. There's no discussion of the jazz pianists lacking a forceful personality, just lacking striking musical ideas.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Illustration (Principle)

Stimulus Summary:
Some gifted jazz pianists didn't have great ideas so didn't lead memorable sessions, but this allowed them to improvise off of others' ideas, so they added a lot of great stuff to recordings.

Answer Anticipation:
Illustration (Principle) questions present us with a scenario and then ask us to generalize from it to a principle that will be provided in the correct answer. We should identify the details in the scenario and anticipate a principle while recognizing that our anticipation might not be precise.

Here, the topic is certain jazz pianists that lacked "striking musical ideas." These individuals weren't leading great recording sessions because of this lack of ideas, but it did let them add to great recording sessions led by others. So a characteristic of a group is identified (having no striking musical ideas), and it's shown to be a negative in one way (leading sessions) but a positive in another (adding masterful touches to sessions led by others).

Answer Explanation:
This answer reflects the stimulus, and it's weak enough to be supported by a single example. The trait in question is the lack of striking musical ideas. In leading a recording session, it's a weakness, in that these individuals didn't lead any memorable recording sessions. However, in another setting—backing up leaders with such ideas—it allowed for "masterful touches" to the "greatest" recordings.

Key Takeaway:
Illustration (Principle) questions generally discuss a single situation. As such, the principles that they can illustrate can't be broader or more encompassing than what can be supported by one situation! Look for answers that talk about what "can" happen, or "might" be true, or is "possible," rather than what does happen in any similar circumstance.

Incorrect. Similar to (B), this answer is too strong to be supported by a single example. This answer is also more about the successful recording session leaders, who had the help of the pianists, rather than the pianists who served as the focus of the stimulus.