Logical reasoning PrepTest 123 · Section 3 · Question 4

Question prompt

Many corporations have begun Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: E

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

Errors in Reasoning Questions

Stimulus Summary

Since employees are already motivated to be productive, hanging posters to boost productivity is unlikely to work.

Answer Anticipation

The premise about the employees states that they're motivated to be productive, but the intended goal of hanging posters is to boost productivity. Even if they're already productive, it's possible they could be more productive. The correct answer should point out this gap in the reasoning between being productive and being more productive.

Answer choices

  1. A
    fails to consider whether Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    Incorrect. The argument doesn't fail to consider if these corporations will boost productivity with posters—proving that is the whole point of the argument! The first sentence even states that these corporations are beginning this practice, so we already have examples of corporations who didn't previously use posters starting to engage in the practice.
  2. B
    takes for granted that, Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    Incorrect. The stimulus states "almost all employees at these corporations . . . " Since the premise is already tied to the specific employees at these corporations, and the conclusion also mentions these corporations, there isn't an unrepresentative sample.
  3. C
    fails to consider that Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    Incorrect. This answer choice is out of scope because the conclusion is specifically about the posters having their intended purpose. If the conclusion were about whether it was worth it at all to hang the posters, then other benefits would be relevant.
  4. D
    does not adequately address Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    Incorrect. Even if there are other factors in employee productivity, it's still possible for motivation to be a strong factor that would be relevant to productivity. If the conclusion were about the best way to increase productivity, other factors would be relevant, but it's just about whether motivational posters will work at all.
  5. E
    fails to consider that Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E matches the stem
    Correct. This answer choice recognizes the shift between being productive and being more productive. It describes the error in reasoning in the argument.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 9%
  2. B 5%
  3. C 7%
  4. D 14%
  5. E Credited 65%

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