Logical reasoning PrepTest 122 · Section 2 · Question 17

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen with Necessary Premise

Stimulus Summary:
Premise - Humans can exhibit certain behavior without conscious awareness of it
Conclusion - An animal being intelligent doesn't show that it has consciousness

Answer Anticipation:
In Strengthen with Necessary Premise questions, always be on the lookout for new concepts that show up in the conclusion.

Here, the conclusion talks about intelligence and consciousness. While the latter is mentioned in the premise ("conscious awareness"), the former isn't. Since the conclusion has support for a conclusion about conscious awareness, the assumption must relate intelligence to whatever is connected to consciousness in the premise. In this case, that is complex, goal-oriented behavior. Since we want an answer that connects the premise to the conclusion, we're looking for an answer that says complex, goal-oriented behavior demonstrates intelligence.

Answer Explanation:
This answer draws the connection that we anticipated. If such behavior doesn't require intelligence, then the argument falls apart as the premise about that behavior is not connected to the conclusion.

Key Takeaway:
When a Strengthen with Necessary Premise question introduces a new concept in the conclusion, see what concept it's connected to there. Then, identify what term that shared concept is connected to in the premises. The assumption will generally connect the new term in the conclusion to that concept connected to the shared term.

Note here that most of the answers connected the relevant terms, and the negations/direction mattered. Remember that you want an answer that draws a connection from the premise to the conclusion.

Incorrect. The argument relies on intelligence not implying consciousness, not the other way around. This answer is a reversal of the connection we're looking for. Direction matters!

Incorrect. The argument assumes that intelligence doesn't establish consciousness. This answer states that consciousness does establish intelligence. It's another answer that reverses the connection in the stimulus.

Incorrect. This answer weakens the argument, since the argument concludes that the possession of intelligence does not entail consciousness.

Incorrect. This answer disconnects the premise from the conclusion, where such behavior is assumed to demonstrate intelligence, so this answer also undermines the argument.