Logical reasoning PrepTest 138 · Section 3 · Question 11

Incorrect. This is the opposing point. Views attributed to a group are generally opposing points, and this statement is pivoted away from ("but").

Incorrect. This answer is an example of a principle ("For instance").

Incorrect. This answer is an assumption/principle that connects one of the examples to the intermediate conclusion.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Many people - Personal conflicts are inevitable
Counselor - That's not true. They arise from irrationality. Here's an example, and an example of that example.

Answer Anticipation:
You have to admire the example within an example here!

The Counselor starts by bringing up what "[m]any people" believe, which is almost certainly the opposing point. That is reinforced by the pivot ("but") to the Counselor's opinion of that opposing point—the assumption is wrong. In other words, personal conflicts are evitable (yep, it's a word!). An author's opinion of an opposing point is almost always the main point of the argument, so we have a good candidate!

The next statement is the reason why the assumption is wrong—these personal conflicts are avoidable because they're based in irrationality, making this support for that pivot statement. This statement is backed up by the example ("For instance"), and then that example is backed by its own example ("for example"). Examples are almost always going to be premises, so we've got a set of premises (though the first example is arguably an intermediate conclusion since it has its own example), an intermediate conclusion, and the main point—the assumption that personal conflicts are inevitable is wrong.

Answer Explanation:
This answer reflects the Counselor's opinion of the opposing point, rephrased to be a positive statement of her belief instead of the statement of her opinion of the opposing point. The rest of the argument after this statement explains why personal conflicts are avoidable, thus making this the main point.

Key Takeaway:
Opinions on opposing points are almost always main points. However, in Main Point questions, those opinions are often rephrased to be a statement of the actual belief instead of the opinion on the opposing point in the correct answer. Note the difference between saying an opposing point is wrong (as it did here) versus saying that its argument is flawed, as those lead to different answers.

Incorrect. This answer is an example ("for example") of an example ("For instance") of the intermediate conclusion.