Logical reasoning PrepTest 129 · Section 2 · Question 5

Incorrect. If people already believe that wholesome foods have more flavor than unwholesome foods, then emphasizing that fact isn't likely to change people's behavior.

Incorrect. This answer doesn't add anything to the argument—it has already been established that people prioritize flavor over nutrition.

Incorrect. The conclusion is that health experts will have "more" success emphasizing flavor over nutrition. If anything, emphasizing nutrition being somewhat successful raises the bar and makes it harder for the emphasis on flavor to clear the bar of being more successful.

Incorrect. This relationship doesn't make it any more likely that the health experts will have any luck in getting people to eat healthy foods by focusing on the flavor of those foods. If anything, it would mean that people are more likely to continue to eat the least nutritious foods since they believe them to be the most flavorful.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen

Stimulus Summary:
People pick foods because they're tasty, not because they're nutritious.
Goal: Get people to eat healthier
Method: Tell people how truly tasty good foods are instead of how nutritious they are

Answer Anticipation:
This argument highlights a goal and the means of achieving that goal as the conclusion of the argument. That goal is to get people to eat nutritious foods, and the means is to focus on talking up how much flavor there is in nutritious foods. The argument does establish that taste is a more important factor to most people than nutrition (in fact, it's the most important factor to most people), so if people believe these foods are tasty, then they're more likely to eat them.

However, there's a jump there between health experts emphasizing how tasty wholesome foods are and people believing that those foods are tasty. If people don't believe what the experts say, or they try those foods and find them flavorless, then the method recommended in the stimulus won't ultimately work. This argument deals a lot with subjectivity—what experts say, what people believe—and so, to strengthen the argument, we should connect these ideas.

Answer Explanation:
This answer connects the proposed method of achieving the goal with that goal being achieved. The argument relied on people believing wholesome foods were flavorful based on health experts saying they were. If people who are told that food is flavorful are both willing to try it and more likely to enjoy it, then the health experts emphasis on flavor might break through and alter behavior, getting people to eat healthy foods because they believe them to be flavorful.

Key Takeaway:
Whenever an argument is discussing what people think, say, or believe, there's a subjective element to it that must be addressed. Just because someone says something doesn't mean it's true or that others will believe it, and just because something is true doesn't mean anyone will believe it.