Logical reasoning PrepTest 150 · Section 2 · Question 15

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Children clearly have an ability, because they can answer questions relying on that ability correctly. An example is given, before the author mentions an explanation for what happens in situations similar to the example.

Answer Anticipation:
The "clearly" in the first sentence suggests it's a conclusion (as all similar language does). This determination is backed up by the second sentence serving as evidence for the first sentence. An example will never be a conclusion. That last sentence is also a conclusion ("would be impossible to explain" is the indicator here, since it's an opinion of what a set of facts implies), so we need to figure out between the first and last sentence which is the subsidiary conclusion and which is the main point. Since the last sentence is a piece of evidence supporting the first, and not the other way around, the correct answer will be that first sentence.

Answer Explanation:
This answer reflects the first sentence, using a synonym for the conclusion indicator.

Key Takeaway:
Main Point questions—especially those in the second half of a section—tend to have subsidiary conclusions, so watch out for them!

Incorrect. This is a premise supporting the main point. Results of a study, while a conclusion in the sense that they're the conclusion of the study, are rarely the main point of an argument.

Incorrect. This answer reflects the example used to back up the subsidiary conclusion. Examples are premises.

Incorrect. This is a premise given as a part of the example, supporting the intermediate conclusion.

Incorrect. They saved the subsidiary conclusion for last! A tempting answer, but it ultimately supports the first sentence and thus isn't the main point. It's more limited in scope, which is a good indicator that it's subsidiary.