Logical reasoning PrepTest 149 · Section 1 · Question 3

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Point at Issue

Stimulus Summary:
E: The transit authority will run out of money within a year without cutting services or raising rates. The feds aren't bailing them out. However, they shouldn't cut services or charge more, because the feds will step in when they run out of money.

C: That's . . . a terrible idea. The feds will probably just let the transit authority run out of money and close.

Answer Anticipation:
One of them thinks playing this game of chicken will work (E), and the other doesn't (C).

Answer Explanation:
E thinks this is a good plan that will result in the feds stepping in, so he agrees. C thinks this plan risks something that the transit authority can't risk, so she disagrees.

Key Takeaway:
For Point at Issue questions earlier in the section, it's usually the case that the central issue in the debate will be the correct answer.

Incorrect. Neither of them states what the feds should do. At most, E agrees with this statement, but that's not even certain. He could be against the transit authority in general, while still speculating on their best path forward.

Incorrect. Neither of them weighs in on which of the two potential non-fed solutions to the budgetary issues would be better.

Incorrect. E appears to disagree with this statement, but C doesn't weigh in on it at all.

Incorrect. This answer is tricky because it's not clear if raising fares would count as receiving additional funding. However, no matter how E feels about this answer, C doesn't speak to it, so it can be eliminated.