Reading comp PrepTest 137 · Section 1 · Question 1

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Weaken

Stimulus Summary:
Similarities - Peaches and apricots are both popular
Differences - Peach trees are cheaper to buy/plant and grow fruit younger
Conclusion - Johnsons should plant peach trees

Answer Anticipation:
The conclusion here makes a recommendation to plant one fruit tree over another based on the differences between the two options. The recommended tree—the peach tree—is cheaper to buy/plant and will start "paying off" by growing fruit sooner.

Those are definitely two pros in favor of the peach tree. So in order to weaken this argument, we need to find an answer that brings up a difference between the peach and apricot trees that suggests the latter is a better option—maybe they're easier (and thus cheaper) to manage, or apricots sell for significantly more. Any relevant difference that suggests apricots are a better option (or peaches are a worse option) will weaken this argument.

Answer Explanation:
This answer brings up a relevant difference that is a pro in the apricot column. If they sell for a much higher price, it might balance out the more expensive start-up costs and slower ramp-up. This weakens the recommendation to plant peaches by suggesting a reason to believe apricots will be better.

Key Takeaway:
When arguments rely on comparisons, there are some trends to what the correct answer will highlight, but it's not as straightforward as some patterns. For example, here, the argument relied on differences, and the correct answer brought up a relevant difference. In other cases, an argument relying on differences will be weakened by a similarity. What you can take away is that argument relying crucially on comparisons will likely have an answer that brings up a comparison, and you should think about whether you're looking for a similarity or difference before you start analyzing the answers.

Incorrect. This is a relevant difference that suggests apricot trees are worse than peach trees, thus strengthening the argument.

Incorrect. This answer brings up a similarity, removing one way that apricot trees could be better than peach trees, thus strengthening the argument.

Incorrect. While this answer does bring up a pro of growing apricots, it doesn't note that this isn't also true of peaches. And, in fact, the reasoning behind why the market for apricots has grown would apply equally to peaches, suggesting that this is more likely a similarity.

Incorrect. If anything, this suggests that the peach market may be seeing a lack of supply, which would lead to higher sales prices, thus reinforcing the conclusion. However, in failing to establish that connection and not noting that this is different from the apricot market, this answer doesn't really affect the argument.