Logical reasoning PrepTest 148 · Section 3 · Question 4

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Valid

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
350C is more than enough to cook things efficiently. Oil and fibers start catching fire at 387C. Electric burners go up to 700C. Therefore, fires could be prevented by limiting these burners to 350C.

Answer Anticipation:
There are a few hints that the first sentence is the main point of the argument. First, that statement is a prediction about what would be true, and predictions generally serve as main points since they need support. Additionally, the information about cooking and combustion temperatures, and the current settings for stovetop burners, is too factual to serve as a conclusion. These are used to support the prediction. All of this builds up to the same point—the conclusion of the argument is that lowering the top temperature of stovetop burners to 350C will prevent some fires.

Answer Explanation:
This answer reflects the prediction made in the first sentence, which the rest of the argument is designed to support, so it's the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
Predictions tend to serve as main points of arguments, since they generally require support. Purely factual information—as many of the statements here were—are usually premises since they tend to be asserted without support.

Incorrect. This answer is a fact about stovetops, supporting that it's possible for the top temperature to be changed without defeating the purpose of the appliance.

Incorrect. This statement is purely factual, supporting the prediction about fewer fires, so it serves as a premise.

Incorrect. This statement is purely factual, supporting the prediction by highlighting that stovetops can currently heat things above their combustion point (thus causing fires).

Incorrect. First, this answer isn't stated in the stimulus, so it's very unlikely that it's the main point of the argument. This answer reflects an implication of the argument that leads to the prediction that a change away from these high temperatures will decrease the number of fires.