Logical reasoning PrepTest 126 · Section 3 · Question 20

Question prompt

Scientists studying a common Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: B

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

New discovery - Most of a common type of bacteria are usually hibernating
Some microbiologists - All types of bacteria are usually hibernating
Pivot - Bacteria similar → Conclusion correct
But - ~Bacteria similar
Therefore - The conclusion is wrong (most bacteria probably aren’t usually hibernating)

Answer Anticipation

Note that this is a Main Point question, so even if you noted a flaw in this argument (the illegal negation), that doesn’t matter! We just need to find the conclusion, not analyze the logic.
This argument follows the common rebuttal structure, but it adds an additional piece/viewpoint that makes it a bit more interesting.
It starts off with what scientists have discovered in their studies. From there, the argument notes that “[s]ome microbiologists” have reached a conclusion based on this discovery. The way it’s phrased - attributing it to a specific group - generally suggests that the author is going to pivot away from this conclusion, and her opinion of it will be the main point.
The statement following the microbiologists’s conclusion is that it would make sense IF something else were true. Generally, when someone says that another viewpoint is right if something specific is assumed, they’re about to say that that assumption is wrong.
And that’s what we see here - a pivot to a premise/conclusion statement (“since” introducing a premise that’s going to build into a conclusion). That conclusion is the author’s opinion of the microbiologists’s conclusion, supported by the only information after the premise, and thus guaranteeing it’s the main point. So we should find an answer stating that the main point is that it is unlikely that most types of bacteria hibernate regularly.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Bacteria of most types Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    This is the conclusion of the microbiologists - the opposing point that the author disagrees with.
  2. B
    It is probably not Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B matches the stem
    This answer reflects the author’s main point, highlighted after the pivot and standing in contrast to the opposing point.
  3. C
    If bacteria are extremely Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    This answer is the assumption of the author’s argument (and the negation of the relationship she establishes that would allow the opposing point to be reasonable).
  4. D
    The conclusion that bacteria Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    This is a rebuttal note that the author then moves past by bringing up information she believes establishes that the opposing point isn’t reasonable.
  5. E
    It is likely that Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    No one holds this view - even the author states only that it’s not most bacteria, not that it’s only one bacteria.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 4%
  2. B Credited 74%
  3. C 11%
  4. D 10%
  5. E 1%

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