Logical reasoning PrepTest 126 · Section 4 · Question 10

Incorrect. The solution presented by the Economists is to trade urban goods/services for agricultural products. This answer presents a different solution—government subsidies to the urban centers. Presenting an alternative solution to a problem weakens an assertion recommending a solution.

Incorrect. There's no indication that the problems in question have economic causes—"urbanization" may not be an economic issue.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen

Stimulus Summary:
Assertion—
Problem — [P]roblems resulting from increasing urbanization"
Solution — Trading goods/services from urban populations for agricultural products

Answer Anticipation:
The question stem here asks us to strengthen the assertion made by the Economists. It's less an argument than, as the question stem states, just an assertion, so we should treat it as a conclusion that we need to find support for.

That assertion is that a set of problems can be solved with a given solution. However, interestingly, there's no clear indication what those problems are. The stimulus notes that there are approaches to solving the problems associated with urbanization (and the Economists argue for a particular one), but it never goes into what the problems are.

The Economists want to trade urban goods/services for agricultural products. But, again, without knowing what the problems with urbanization are, there's no way to know if this will address those problems. If the problems are largely that the urban centers lack agricultural products, then this solution just might work. If the problems are largely about housing or health/sanitation, then no amount of soybeans and corn will solve that problem!

As such, the correct answer should connect the specific solution (agricultural products) to the generic problems the Economists are attempting to address.

Answer Explanation:
This answer connects the solution proposed to the Economists to the problem they're trying to solve. If a central element of the problems associated with urbanization is a lack of agricultural products, then a solution focused on getting those products to urban centers seems like a solid idea, strengthening the assertion here.

Key Takeaway:
Whenever a stimulus has a problem/solution structure, make sure that the problem actually addresses the solution. And in order to do that, you'll need to have a clear idea of the problem and solution. If there isn't a clear statement of either, then that's a flaw in the argument.

Incorrect. While the Economists do suggest international trade as a solution to the noted problems (previously produced domestically"), that doesn't mean that trade imbalances are at the root of the problem. Conversely, trade imbalances being at the route of a problem doesn't mean that the solution is in trade.

Incorrect. First, there's no indication that the Economists are advocating for free trade policies—they could be advocating for limited or regulated trade. Second, ignoring that, this answer says that such policies would make the problems worse, thus undercutting the assertion of the Economists.