Logical reasoning PrepTest 150 · Section 3 · Question 6

Incorrect. How long the ships have been there doesn't matter, only that they have the stated effect of making the water still.

Incorrect. While having a stable population might be evidence for certain theories of why Shooter's Island is so popular, it doesn't impact a theory about still waters, since there's no reason to believe still waters fluctuate throughout the year.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen

Stimulus Summary:
Shooter's Island is in still water because of all the shipwrecks. Adult bird populations are about the same between Shooter's Island and nearby islands, but baby bird populations are much higher at Shooter's Island. Therefore, the still waters must serve as a nursery.

Answer Anticipation:
While the exceptionally still waters around Shooter's Island serve as one potential location for the nurseries that would account for the higher number of baby birds, the argument doesn't establish that it's the only potential location. Any answer that provides evidence the still waters are where the nurseries are, as opposed to some other location that's more prevalent in Shooter's Island (e.g., shipwrecks), will strengthen this argument.

Answer Explanation:
This answer directly connects waterbird nurseries with still waters, thus strengthening the conclusion that it is the still waters around Shooter's Island than these birds use to host their nurseries.

Key Takeaway:
Strengthen questions early in the section tend to have direct evidence for the conclusion. Don't rule out an answer because it seems too on point.

Incorrect. A tempting answer, but the stimulus already established that the waters around Shooter's Island are exceptionally still. This answer choice might reinforce that exceptional nature, but it doesn't provide evidence that those still waters are where the nurseries are made.

Incorrect. This answer choice generalizes about waterbird population location, and that generalization aligns with what was established in the stimulus (Shooter's Island does have a larger waterbird population when you take both juvenile and adult populations into account). As such, it doesn't strengthen the argument.