Logical reasoning PrepTest 123 · Section 2 · Question 5

Question prompt

Scientist: Earth's average annual Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: B

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Argument or Facts

Argument

Valid or Flawed

Flawed

Question Type

Cause & Effect / Weaken Questions

Stimulus Summary

The Earth is .5C hotter than the last century. Gases that block the outward flow of heat are the cause.

Answer Anticipation

The Scientist here reaches a causal conclusion—the buildup of certain gases is causing the Earth to warm. When weakening a causal relationship, there are three primary ways to do it. First, an alternative cause could be pointed out. Second, counterexamples could be presented (gas buildup without warming; warming without gas buildup). Third, reversed causality could be explored (here, a warming Earth causing gas buildup). Knowing these patterns should help us analyze the answer choices.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Only some of the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    Incorrect. The Scientist doesn't assign blame or recommend ways to cut down on the pollution, so the source of the pollution is irrelevant to the argument.
  2. B
    Most of the warming Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B matches the stem
    Correct. This answer choice falls into the second common category of answers. By showing that the supposed cause—the gas buildup—occurred after the supposed effect—warming—this answer weakens the causal relationship. The effect was happening without/before the cause, which isn't how cause and effect work!
  3. C
    Over the last century, Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    Incorrect. While this answer choice might seem like an alternative cause, it doesn't provide enough information for us to know that. First, does solar radiation cause warming? Second, was the amount of solar radiation higher in the past century than earlier centuries? If not, then it wouldn't explain the recent warming. Without this (and other) information, we can't be certain that solar radiation is an alternative cause, so this answer is wrong.
  4. D
    Volcanic dust and other Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    Incorrect. There's no information in this answer that suggests the dust/particles are at different levels in the last century compared to earlier ones, which would be needed to explain a change. Additionally, it seems as if reflecting the Sun's radiation would, if anything, lower the temperature, so this would make the warming even more concerning if there were more particles in the atmosphere!
  5. E
    The accumulation of minor Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    Incorrect. If anything, this answer choice strengthens the argument by showing that the buildup of gases coincided with the heating of the atmosphere. This answer guarantees that there was more gas this year than last, and the temperature increased, which is evidence that there could be a causal relationship.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 12%
  2. B Credited 50%
  3. C 17%
  4. D 9%
  5. E 13%

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