Logical reasoning PrepTest 134 · Section 2 · Question 18

Incorrect. The stimulus compares smokers and nonsmokers, not different types of nonsmokers. As such, we don't know enough to analyze this comparison so it very well could be true.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Cannot Be True

Stimulus Summary:
A smoker who just smoked generally has better short—term memory than a nonsmoker. Most smokers maintain this edge for 8+ hours.

Answer Anticipation:
This stimulus focuses on a comparison between smokers and nonsmokers as far as short—term memory is concerned. Note that the comparison is between smokers who recently smoked and all nonsmokers (whether they smoked for the purposes of the study or not).

Outside of noting these details and the comparative nature of the stimulus, however, there's not much anticipation work to do—let's head to the answers with enough time to make sure we can analyze them to make our eliminations, remembering we're looking for an answer that is contradicted by the information in the stimulus since this is a Cannot Be True question.

Answer Explanation:
The stimulus notes that smokers who have recently smoked have better short—term memory skills that nonsmokers, "whether or not" the nonsmoker has smoked. This answer directly contradicts that comparison, so this is the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
Cannot Be True questions require an answer that is contradicted by the information in the stimulus—don't forget that as you're analyzing the answers!

Incorrect. The stimulus never discusses smokers who haven't smoked for a while, so it's impossible to know how their memory would compare to nonsmokers who just smoked and thus this could be true.

Incorrect. The stimulus never distinguishes light vs. heavy smoking sessions, so this answer has content out of scope of the argument which very well could be true.

Incorrect. The stimulus doesn't state whether the short—term memory skills that persist over that 8—hour period stay the same, go up, or go down over time. Since each is possible, this answer could be true.