Logical reasoning PrepTest 137 · Section 4 · Question 10

Incorrect. If anything, this strengthens the connection between the responsibilities of corporate executives and public officials.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Weaken

Stimulus Summary:
Corporate executives are responsible for a long list of things, so they're public officials.

Answer Anticipation:
That's a long list of things that corporate executives are responsible for, and there's no way you should try to commit them to memory. Instead, focus on the conclusion and what jump is being made between that list and it.

The conclusion here is that these executives are de facto public officials. That's based on them taking on that long list of responsibilities. So the argument is assuming that someone with those responsibilities is a public official. Any answer that disconnects being a public official from any or all of these responsibilities will weaken this argument.

Answer Explanation:
This answer drives a wedge between the responsibilities of corporate executives outlined by the Economist and being a public official, thus weakening the argument.

Key Takeaway:
When the stimulus has a detail dump—too many details for you to legitimately commit to memory—get an idea of what those details are being connected to and what the assumption of the argument is. Then, focus on answers that address that gap and check the details after that analysis to make sure there are no shifts that invalidate an answer that's otherwise correct.

Incorrect. While this answer doesn't really affect the argument, in bringing up a similarity between executives and public officials, this answer is more in the realm of strengtheners than weakeners.

Incorrect. The argument concedes this, saying that these decisions are "subject to significant consumer control," so this answer is already a part of the argument and thus can't affect it.

Incorrect. Cooperation between the two types of leaders doesn't weaken the argument that one is the other. If anything, it points to them having similar roles.