Logical reasoning PrepTest 126 · Section 3 · Question 18

Question prompt

Many parents rigorously organize 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

Thoroughly structuring a kid’s playtime and expecting a creative and resourceful kid is like expecting a good novel when you give an author the plot and characters. So thoroughly structuring a kid’s playtime won’t help a kid’s cognitive development.

Answer Anticipation

There are two big issues with this argument that we can look for in the correct answers.
The first is based on the key element in the premises. The author relies completely on the analogy between playtime and writing a novel in order to reach its conclusion. However, the analogous situation isn’t established to be similar in all relevant details (and, honestly, it seems a bit tenuous to us!). As such, any answer that highlights the analogy as being weak could describe an error in reasoning in this argument.
The second is that the conclusion features a new concept - cognitive development. The analogy speaks to the development of creativity and resourcefulness, but those are only a few aspects of cognitive development. Other aspects of cognitive development might be aided through rigorously organized play. In treating these two concepts as being the same when they’re different, the argument is flawed, and so we can look for an answer addressing this error in reasoning, as well.

Answer choices

  1. A
    It takes for granted Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    The argument states that something isn’t conducive to a certain goal, so this answer doesn’t describe the argument. It would be correct if, for example, the argument was that structured playtime helped with something other than cognitive development, so therefore it can’t help with cognitive development. Instead, it states that it doesn’t help with two aspects of cognitive development, so it can’t help with overall cognitive development.
  2. B
    It overlooks the possibility Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    Enjoyment is out of scope - the argument cares about cognitive development.
  3. C
    It takes a necessary Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    The argument establishes something that doesn’t guarantee cognitive development, so this answer doesn’t describe it.
  4. D
    It fails to consider Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    If anything, the argument assumes that writing a good novel does require these things, so this answer is incorrect. This answer also doesn’t relate to the strength of the analogy, but rather with the details of the analogous situation, so it doesn’t address that flaw.
  5. E
    It fails to consider Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E matches the stem
    The analogy, at best, establishes that rigorously organized playtime doesn’t help children develop creativity or resourcefulness. From that, it concludes that it doesn’t help with cognitive development. That ignores all the other ways by which such playtime could aid cognitive development.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 11%
  2. B 2%
  3. C 7%
  4. D 3%
  5. E Credited 78%

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