Logical reasoning PrepTest 122 · Section 2 · Question 6

Incorrect. If anything, this strengthens the provided explanation as the correct one by showing more examples of it.

Incorrect. Without raising the reason that they do so, it's impossible to know if this answer aligns with or undermines the explanation in the stimulus. If the egrets follow these animals because of the insects they stir up, then the argument is strengthened; if they follow them for some other reason, then it's weakened.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Weaken

Stimulus Summary:
Phenomenon - Cattle egrets live around herds of cattle
(Only) Explanation - The birds eat insects that the cattle stir up while grazing

Answer Anticipation:
In an argument where the author concludes an explanation for an observed phenomenon, the correct answers usually address alternative causes. Here, the question stem asks us to weaken the view that the provided explanation is the "only available one," so we can do so by identifying an alternative explanation. Let's look for an answer raising another potential explanation for why the egrets follow the cattle around.

Answer Explanation:
This answer provides an alternative explanation for the phenomenon—it's not (just) the insects that are stirred up that cause the egrets to follow the cattle, but that the cows scare off predators.

Key Takeaway:
For Weaken (and Strengthen) questions, be wary of neutral answer choices, such as (B). When an answer could strengthen or weaken the argument based on which "direction" the details go, then it isn't a correct answer (though it would be correct in an Argument Evaluation question!).

Incorrect. This answer establishes a connection between certain animals and the egrets, but it doesn't speak to why that connection exists, so it doesn't strengthen or weaken the argument.

Incorrect. This answer shows that egrets don't live in a certain area because they don't have food insects around, strengthening an argument that insects are key to the egret decision on where to live. That aligns with the argument.