Logical reasoning PrepTest 147 · Section 4 · Question 11

Incorrect. This a fact established that the argument builds from—in other words, a premise.

Incorrect. This answer is a principle that might justify the conclusion, but not based on the premises here which are about the number of subfamilies spoken in an area, not the length the languages have been spoken there (which isn't established).

Incorrect. This answer is a subsidiary conclusion—it's after the "Since" but before the "hence."

Incorrect. This is more of an assumption that allows the intermediate conclusion to be drawn—it isn't explicitly stated.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Some facts about a certain language family are established. Since they all originated in the same place, the facts point to Taiwan, and so that's where the speakers came from before heading to the other islands.

Answer Anticipation:
Don't get bogged down in all the details in a Main Point question—you're looking for keywords indicating the structure.

Here, the argument starts with a bunch of facts. Those are almost certainly not the conclusion, so you should move through them quickly. After that, the argument uses a premise indicator word ("Since") that also tells us a later part of the sentence is a conclusion. That sentence starting with, "Since," ends up being a run-on, but after the premise and conclusion, the argument tacks on yet another conclusion ("hence"). Since a statement that is followed by a conclusion indicator word must be supporting that conclusion, the final clause here is the main point of the argument—Austronesian-speaking peoples came from Taiwan and migrated to the other islands.

Answer Explanation:
This answer restates that final clause, which is backed up by the intermediate conclusion immediately preceding it and the premises preceding that.

Key Takeaway:
Don't get too bogged down in details in a Main Point question on a first read. When there are clear keywords that point to the conclusion, rely on them and then quickly justify it based on the logic of the argument.