Logical reasoning PrepTest 138 · Section 2 · Question 17

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Trees with established roots survive droughts better, and a tree purchased last year would have established roots by now, so it would have been better to buy a tree then.

Answer Anticipation:
The argument starts with a comparative opinion—buying a tree last year would be better than buying a tree this year. Opinions—especially comparisons like one thing being "better"—tend to be conclusions, so we're starting off with a candidate for the main point.

The next statement brings up something bad happening with the tree purchased this year—that supports the conclusion that it would have been better to buy a tree last year. After that, it goes into the positives of buying a tree last year—that serves the same function as talking about the downsides to a tree bought this year.

So while there is an intermediate conclusion in here, it wouldn't be necessary to spot that, as the first statement is a comparative conclusion supported by an analysis of the upsides and downsides of the two things being compared. Let's find an answer reflecting the first sentence.

Answer Explanation:
This answer reflects the first statement, which is the main point. The comparison in it is backed up by the discussion of the negatives of buying a tree this year and the positives of a tree purchased last year.

Key Takeaway:
Comparisons—especially ones that say something is "better" than something else—tend to be the main point of arguments that feature them.

Incorrect. This is a premise, establishing a negative of the tree purchased this year to support the conclusion that it would have been better to purchase a tree last year.

Incorrect. This is an intermediate conclusion (backed up by the following statement that starts with "because"). By bringing up a positive of a tree purchased last year, it supports the comparison made in the first sentence/main point.

Incorrect. This answer is support for the intermediate conclusion, which is made clear by the structure of the argument ("...because . . . ").

Incorrect. This is a premise that adds to the premise to justify the intermediate conclusion.