Logical reasoning PrepTest 137 · Section 3 · Question 15

Incorrect. This is a background statement establishing why the author is discussing hydrogen fuel stations.

Incorrect. This is a bit of a rephrase/implication of the second statement, which is an assessment of the current state of affairs—a fact. This answer rephrases it to have a slightly different meaning, however, meaning that it can't be the main point since it's not even established in the argument.

Incorrect. Very close, but a little too broad. The stimulus is just about one specific technology, not all new kinds of technology. Additionally, this answer is more of an assumption of the argument, linking the premises to the conclusion, rather than just the prediction featured in the conclusion.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
We can make hydrogen cars, but there aren't fuel stations. However, the same was true of gas-powered cars, and those fuel stations were built. So the same is likely to happen here.

Answer Anticipation:
For Main Point questions, focus on the conclusion indicator words and, short of that, the pivot indicator words. And don't forget the types of statements that are generally conclusions.

Here, the argument doesn't feature any conclusion indicator words, but it does feature three pivots ("But," "However," "yet"). The "But" and "yet" statements are both facts, but the "However" statement is a prediction about what will "likely" happen. Predictions are generally conclusions, and qualifiers such as "likely" are much more common in conclusions than in premises.

Additionally, the rest of the argument is a related situation that backs up the prediction. All three of these details, together, should drive you to conclude that the conclusion is: A national hydrogen fuel station system will likely appear and grow rapidly.

Answer Explanation:
This answer is the author's prediction, backed up by the current state of affairs and a similar scenario that played out a century ago.

Key Takeaway:
As you get more practice on LR questions, you should start to develop a feel for what types of statements are conclusions and which are premises. This feel, however, doesn't develop without you working on it, so make sure that, as you review, you try to recognize patterns in this so you can quickly break down an argument's structure. After all, that's something you'll need to do in at least 2/3 LR questions!

Incorrect. This answer isn't stated in the argument—rather, it's an assumption of the argument.