Logical reasoning PrepTest 123 · Section 3 · Question 2

Question prompt

After replacing his old Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: A

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

Argument or Facts

Facts

Question Type

Bizarro / Paradox Questions

Stimulus Summary

After installing a new, highly efficient gas water heater, Jimmy's gas bill went up.

Answer Anticipation

Jimmy made a change to his house—he installed a highly efficient gas water heater. Since it's highly efficient, one might expect his gas bill to go down, but it went up. In general, paradoxes like this one will be resolved by another change that resulted in Jimmy's gas use changing and increasing enough to outweigh the savings from the efficient gas heater.

Answer choices

  1. A
    The new water heater Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A matches the stem
    Correct. Jimmy's gas usage presumably went up, explaining the increase in his gas bill. This answer choice could line up with an increase in gas usage, but it could also align with a decrease in gas usage, with the decrease in the water heater larger than other decreases. Since this doesn't account for an increase in gas usage/larger bill, it doesn't resolve the paradox, and it's the correct answer.
  2. B
    Shortly after the new Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    Incorrect. If a second person is added to the household, that could explain an increase in hot water/gas usage, and the resulting increase in the bill.
  3. C
    After having done his Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    Incorrect. Doing laundry at home instead of a laundromat? That could explain the increase in hot water usage and resulting increase in the bill.
  4. D
    Jimmy's utility company raised Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    Incorrect. If gas is more expensive, even using it more efficiently might result in an overall increase to your gas bill. This answer resolves the paradox.
  5. E
    Unusually cold weather following Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    Incorrect. If Jimmy needed to use the hot water heater more because of a cold snap, that would mean more gas usage even if it is more efficient. This answer resolves the paradox.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A Credited 78%
  2. B 7%
  3. C 5%
  4. D 6%
  5. E 3%

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