Logical reasoning PrepTest 131 · Section 2 · Question 5

Incorrect. The argument is over a specific food label for cookies that do contain alphahydroxy acids, so it doesn't matter what the cookie company did after they made this batch.

Incorrect. Gilbert notes that the cookies do contain these acids, so even if other chemicals used to make the cookies aren't ingredients, these ones are.

Incorrect. This answer doesn't address whether synthetic acids that also appear in nature can be considered natural. At best, it would explain how a mistaken label was released, not support that the label isn't mistaken in the first place, as Sabine concludes.

Incorrect. What other food companies do doesn't establish what the truth of the matter is—it's possible all of these companies are mistakenly labeling their foods.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument/Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed/Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen

Stimulus Summary:
G: The cookie has an ingredient that's synthesized, so it's wrong for the label to say the cookie is all natural.

S: That ingredient occurs naturally, so the label is right.

Answer Anticipation:
The debate between Sabina and Gilbert is over what a natural ingredient is. Gilbert believes that an ingredient synthesized in the lab isn't natural. For Sabina, it doesn't matter if it was synthesized—if it appears in nature, then it's natural. To strengthen Sabina's argument, therefore, we need an answer that supports her definition of natural. Let's find an answer stating that anything that appears in nature is natural.

Answer Explanation:
While worded in an unnecessarily complex manner, this answer choice establishes that anything appearing in nature can be considered natural—that includes the alphahydroxy acids, thus justifying Sabina's conclusion.

Key Takeaway:
While not necessary to analyze this argument, understanding what the point at issue between Gilbert and Sabina ended up being helpful in anticipating the correct answer. Dealing with Sabina's argument on its own would have led to the same answer, but knowing that they were arguing over the definition of natural allowed us to start on the right path.