Logical reasoning PrepTest 126 · Section 3 · Question 13

Question prompt

Botanist: It has long Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: D

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

Main Point Questions

Stimulus Summary

Opposing point - People with kids or pets shouldn’t have poinsettias
Rebuttal - Research conclusively shows that they pose no threat to children/pets
Conclusion - The opposing point is wrong (It’s fine for people with kids/pets to have poinsettias)

Answer Anticipation

This argument follows a classic structure - an opposing point is introduced, the author’s opinion of that opposing point is stated, and the support for that opinion is presented. The author’s opinion of an opposing point is almost always the main point of the argument.
That pans out here perfectly. The Botanist introduces her opinion of the view that people with kids/pets shouldn’t keep poinsettias - it’s mistaken. That’s backed up by research, which will almost always be a premise and not a conclusion. The pivot even uses although, which tells us the author is about to bring up an opposing point or fact before pivoting to her argument.
One last step before we head to the answers - rephrase the conclusion to what it means instead of what it says. To state that a belief is mistaken is to believe that it’s false, not just that it’s invalid or unproven. So if the belief that people with kids/pets shouldn’t keep poinsettias is mistaken, then that means that it’s fine for people with pets/kids to keep poinsettias.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Child–rearing books should encourage Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    This answer goes a step too far. While the Botanist believes poinsettias don’t pose a danger, she never goes so far as to say that they should be in homes. Just that there’s no problem with keeping them if you so desire.
  2. B
    Poinsettias are not dangerously Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    This answer is an implication of the research, not the conclusion itself.
  3. C
    According to many child–rearing Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    This is a part of the opposing point, not the main point of the argument.
  4. D
    The belief that households Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D matches the stem
    This answer reflects the Botanist’s judgment of the opposing point, and it is thus the correct answer. Further support that it’s the main point is that the research noted in the stimulus is evidence in favor of this view.
  5. E
    Poinsettias pose no risk Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    This is the conclusion of the research, not of the argument, which uses this conclusion to support an opinion about an opposing viewpoint.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 3%
  2. B 5%
  3. C 0%
  4. D Credited 78%
  5. E 13%

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