Logical reasoning PrepTest 124 · Section 3 · Question 20

Incorrect. The argument and conclusion is about animals that can control their body temperatures, so other organisms are out of scope.

Incorrect. The argument doesn't mention other animals, nor does it set mammals as different from others. Additionally, a key premise is about "any organism," not must mammals.

Incorrect. This answer connects the chemical reactions in the brain and intelligence, so we need to consider it. However, it's too strong in stating that "uncontrolled" temperatures are sufficient to prevent intelligence from being present. Something being a factor in the development of a phenomenon doesn't mean that lacking that thing will prevent the development. For example, if running is a factor in developing cardiovascular health, someone who doesn't run could still have CV health if they, say, bike or swim.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen with Necessary Premise

Stimulus Summary:
The brain uses chemicals, whose reactions are affected by temperature, which can be controlled by certain animals. Therefore, mammals' ability to control their body temperatures is a factor in them developing intelligence.

Answer Anticipation:
These questions that match science to abstraction can be difficult, so it's even more important to slow yourself down and rely on our rules of thumb. For Strengthen with Necessary Premise questions, that means homing in on the conclusion and seeing if there are any new concepts brought up there.

In this case, there is—intelligence. While the premises discuss the brain and chemical reactions, it doesn't connect these things to intelligence. It's possible that intelligence is separate in some way from the other functioning of the brain, or is a separate process to the chemical ones that take place.

We don't want to have too specific of an anticipation here because, quite frankly, it's a complex argument and we don't want to end up missing some key element. So let's head to the answer choices to see if we can find one that connects intelligence to chemical processes.

Answer Explanation:
This answer connects the chemical processes discussed in the premises to the intelligence discussed in the conclusion. If intelligence is independent of the chemical reactions, then a mammal's ability to control the (body) temperature at which those reactions take place doesn't appear likely to be a factor in the development of that intelligence.

Key Takeaway:
The more complex the argument, the more important it is to get back to the basics. Use what you know about the question type to home in on the right area(s)—usually starting with the conclusion, when one is present—and work from there.

Incorrect. The argument is about the animals that can control their internal temperatures, so answers about other organisms are out of scope.