Logical reasoning PrepTest 132 · Section 4 · Question 2

Incorrect. First, the author says the statement in question has an uncontroversial interpretation, not that it is uncontroversial. Second, this answer is too extreme in stating that the statement is "useless"—just because it leads to ambiguous results doesn't mean that it can't serve some purpose. Third, this answer doesn't connect to the conclusion about ambiguity.

Incorrect. The stimulus specifically notes that "this statement" is amenable to multiple interpretations. Also, this answer doesn't connect to the conclusion about ambiguity.

Incorrect. The survey's questions weren't well-phrased, and the responses were ambiguous—this answer is the inverse of what we're looking for!

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Principle (Strengthen)

Stimulus Summary:
A statement asked about in a survey was ambiguous, so the survey's responses are ambiguous.

Answer Anticipation:
There's a lot of background info in this stimulus before the author pivots to her argument ("But"). There, the argument establishes that the question asked of the survey respondents was ambiguous, so the survey responses will also be ambiguous. Since this is a Principle (Strengthen) question, the correct answer should connect these ideas—ambiguous questions are likely to give ambiguous results.

Answer Explanation:
In the stimulus, the survey's questions were ambiguous, which on a survey means they're poorly phrased. From that, the stimulus concludes the responses will be ambiguous—as this answer states. The stimulus conforms to this principle, so it's the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
Principle (Strengthen) questions connect the premises to the conclusion of an argument. Look for an answer that brings up a concept from the premises and attached it to the conclusion.

Incorrect. This statement about a psychic phenomena can have a naturalistic interpretation, but this stimulus doesn't discuss other statements. Additionally, this answer doesn't discuss the ambiguity in the conclusion.