Logical reasoning PrepTest 122 · Section 1 · Question 9

Incorrect. The proportional relationship established in the stimulus relates increased centralization to increased damage on collapse, not to need for food production. The only thing related directly to the need for increased food production is population size.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Must Be True

Stimulus Summary:
Technological improvements → Enable food to increase with population
not Societies more centralized (food production coordinated) → Food production increases negligible
The more centralized a society, the more death when it collapses
Therefore — Increasing societal centralization to make more food will just make its eventual collapse worse

Answer Anticipation:
This Must Be True question is actually quite interesting, in that it seems from the first couple of statements that it will task you with combining conditional statements to form an answer.

However, it ends up going in a different direction. The stimulus ends up being an argument, and that argument is a mix of different types of statements. While the second is definitely conditional, and the first could be viewed that way, the first statement is also a causal statement (will enable"). The third statement is a positive correlation, establishing a proportional relationship. And the conclusion is a prediction based on all these statements.

Since this isn't a purely conditional argument—and since it is an argument in a Must Be True question—the correct answer is likely to fall into one of two categories:
(1) A statement supported by a single statement from the stimulus, such as applying the conditional or the proportional relationship
(2) A weak generalization from the example presented, e.g., that technological improvements can help a society in the short—term but potentially make things worse in the long—term

Answer Explanation:
This answer is a weak generalization supported by the situation in the stimulus. There, technological improvements unlocked the ability to increase food population to track population, but that would also result in centralization, causing the damage from the eventual collapse of the society to be worse. Therefore, it supports that there are some problems that technological improvements wouldn't solve—with the conclusion almost directly stating this answer. Remember, in a Must Be True question, we treat all statements in the stimulus—even conclusions—as being established as true.

Key Takeaway:
When a Must Be True question features an argument, treat the conclusion as an established fact. And when the stimulus explores a single example of a phenomenon, you can anticipate the correct answer might be a weak generalization from it.

Incorrect. This answer is too extreme. First, it's about the increase in population of a society, not the whole world. Second, it's about potential short—term population increases, not indefinite[]" population increases.

Incorrect. This answer very much attempts to apply a single statement from the stimulus—that opening line. However, that establishes technological improvements as being sufficient for allowing the increase of food production, not necessary as this answer states.

Incorrect. This relationship isn't established in the stimulus. The proportional relationship is between centralization and damage during collapse, nto between technology and centralization.