Logical reasoning PrepTest 129 · Section 1 · Question 5

Incorrect. This answer brings up a difference between the two groups that could explain health outcomes. The group that moved in within the past 5 years, according to this answer, is more likely to be in better-than-average health, thus explaining the difference seen in these groups.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Bizarro Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
Elderly there since childhood vs. Elderly moved in within past 5 years—The former group had significantly worse health

Answer Anticipation:
As with many Paradox questions, this one brings up a comparison that needs to be explained. Specifically, this stimulus mentions different health outcomes for two groups that have one thing in common and one thing different. The common element is their age; the different element is how long they've lived in a specific area.

Since they have different health outcomes, the correct answer is likely to tie the different lengths of time they've lived in the area to these outcomes, so let's find any reason that living in this area for a long time, or living there at a specific time more than 5 years in the past, would result in health issues. Also, any answer that brings up a difference between the group that has stayed in this area for their entire lives vs. those who move in their golden years could also provide an explanation.

In short, we need to tie a known difference into the different outcomes, or we need to bring up a difference that ties into those outcomes.

Answer Explanation:
The stimulus compares elderly people who have lived in the area their whole lives to "elderly people who had moved" to the area recently. As such, people who have moved to the area that aren't elderly don't affect this situation, no matter how numerous they are.

Key Takeaway:
Paradox questions frequently deal in comparisons. If we're tasked with explaining a difference, that's usually done with relevant differences. If we're tasked with explaining a similarity, that's usually done with relevant similarities.

Incorrect. This answer establishes that those who have lived in this area their whole lives have had worse health care throughout their lives than anyone who lived elsewhere in the country—including those who have moved to the area in the past 5 years. Having worse healthcare throughout your life does explain why you'd be in worse health later in life.

Incorrect. This answer brings up a relevant difference between the groups. Those who have moved to the area in the past 5 years have experienced a change in their environment, whereas those who have lived in this area their whole lives haven't. This answer suggests that change to their environment could explain the better health for the former group.

Incorrect. This answer suggests that the group who moved to the area is at a higher-than-average level of health, thus explaining why the group that hasn't moved would be in worse health. It's not that the stationary group is in bad health; it's that the moving group is in better health.