Logical reasoning PrepTest 124 · Section 1 · Question 1

Incorrect. This answer shows that businesses will best meet their goal by lying in their ads, thus strengthening the argument that consumers should be skeptical of claims made in those ads.

Incorrect. If it's common practice to lie in ads, then that supports the conclusion that consumers should take any claims made in them with skepticism.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Bizarro Strengthen

Stimulus Summary:
Goal - Maximize profits
Approach - Advertising
Problem - This doesn't motivate businesses to tell the truth in ads
Conclusion - Consumers should be skeptical of claims in ads

Answer Anticipation:
While the structure of this argument has several parts, it's pretty straightforward—businesses want to make money, and inaccurate ads help with that, so consumers should be skeptical of these ads.

Anything that calls the accuracy of the ads into question is going to strengthen this argument; anything that suggests they are accurate will weaken it (and thus be correct). And anything that doesn't fall into one of those two camps is likely out of scope and thus does nothing to the argument—which would also be correct in this Bizarro Strengthen question.

Answer Explanation:
The consumers' attitude towards ads doesn't say anything about the accuracy of the content or whether that attitude is justified. Believing this answer supports the conclusion is believing something approaching a circular argument!

Key Takeaway:
Bizarro Strengthen questions might have a correct answer that weakens the argument, but it might also have a correct answer that has no effect on the argument. As such, don't treat them as Weaken questions.

Incorrect. If those making the ads are focused on something other than accuracy, then it's justified to view the accuracy of those ads with some skepticism.

Incorrect. If the law lets companies get away with it, then one possible check against inaccurate advertising is absent, thus strengthening the argument that consumers are justified in their skepticism.