Logical reasoning PrepTest 130 · Section 4 · Question 2

Incorrect. The importance of keeping different areas of your body warm is out of scope of an argument that's just about whether you can keep one area warm by keeping another area warm.

Incorrect. Something working better doesn't undermine an argument that another thing will work. Even if several layers would work better than the recommended extra layer, that extra layer could still very well keep your hands warm.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Weaken

Stimulus Summary:
Keeping your core warm can keep your hands warm, so in winter, you can always skip the gloves and go for an extra sweater.

Answer Anticipation:
The conclusion here swings big with one of the strongest words out there—"always." Saying something will "always" work doesn't leave room for exceptions. In order to justify such a strong conclusion, the premises would need to be equally strong, and they just don't cut it—they state that keeping your core warm "can" keep your hands warm. This argument jumps from a weak premise to a much stronger conclusion.

Since that conclusion is that something will "always" work, a correct answer is likely to highlight a situation where it won't.

Answer Explanation:
This answer highlights a scenario where the extra layer to keep your vital organs warm won't work to keep your hands warm. This undermines an argument that concludes wearing that extra layer will "always" work to keep your hands warm.

Key Takeaway:
Whenever a conclusion has strong language—especially when it uses language like "always"—start by seeing if the premises are strong enough to support it. They frequently won't be, and you can head into the answer choices knowing that anything highlighting that discrepancy in logical force will address the gap in the reasoning.

Incorrect. Whether there's a more effective means of keeping your hands warm is out of scope of an argument about a given means working. It's easier to eat shelled peanuts than those still in the shell, but both can make you full.

Incorrect. The means by which the extra layer keeps hands warm is established as being related to keeping vital organs warm, so that method not warming hands through another mechanism doesn't undercut the argument.