Logical reasoning PrepTest 135 · Section 4 · Question 1

Question prompt

When a forest is Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: C

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Argument or Facts

Facts

Valid or Flawed

NA

Question Type

Paradox Questions

Stimulus Summary

Acid rain lowers calcium levels in soil, which spruce, fir, and sugar maples need. However, sugar maples are more susceptible to calcium deficiency than the other trees.

Answer Anticipation

The stimulus is all about comparisons. Spruce, firs, and sugar maples are all similar in that they need calcium to survive. However, sugar maples are different from spruces and firs in that they appear to be more susceptible to calcium deficiency when acid rain is present. Since this answer is asking us to explain this difference, we need an answer that highlights a relevant difference between sugar maples and spruces/firs that has to do with susceptibility to calcium deficiency during acid rain.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Soil in which calcium Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    This doesn’t explain the different outcomes for sugar maples versus the other trees, as all could presumably be affected by other types of soil damage. If this answer had brought up a specific type of damage that only affects sugar maples, then it’d be in contention.
  2. B
    Sugar maples that do Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    While this highlights a relevant difference, it makes the paradox worse by stating the sugar maples should, on average, be in better shape than the other two types of trees.
  3. C
    Spruces and firs, unlike Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C matches the stem
    This answer brings up a relevant difference between spruces/firs and sugar maples that would explain why sugar maples are more susceptible to a calcium deficiency in acid rain. If the former two trees can get calcium from another source that sugar maples can’t, they’d be expected to have less of a deficiency.
  4. D
    Sugar maples require more Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    First, there’s no discussion of when acid rain falls, so this answer doesn’t let us line up the timelines. Second, there’s no information in this answer or in the stimulus about the needs of spruces and firs at different times, so we can’t compare sugar maples to them on this metric.
  5. E
    Unlike spruces or firs, Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    The stimulus compares sugar maples “in forests that receive significant acid rain” to spruces and firs “in such forests,” so it doesn’t matter how frequently the trees are in those forests.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 14%
  2. B 11%
  3. C Credited 64%
  4. D 4%
  5. E 7%

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Discussion

  • Answer choice E 1 reply

    Started by shafieiava

  • Help 2 replies

    Started by Batman

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