Logical reasoning PrepTest 151 · Section 2 · Question 7

Incorrect. If anything, this answer suggests that it's important not to feed wild birds, as they'll become vulnerable to various bad things.

Incorrect. While this answer might explain why humans would want wild birds in their yards, it doesn't justify actually attracting them there and decreasing their odds of survival.

Incorrect. This answer doesn't justify endangering the birds. Just because something works really well doesn't mean you should do it.

Incorrect. This answer might be tempting by suggesting that these bird lovers "balance out" their actions in their yards by helping birds in their habitats. However, doing good in one place doesn't justify doing bad elsewhere—donating to charity doesn't let you can speed or litter.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Paradox (Principle)

Stimulus Summary:
P: Feeding wild animals makes it harder for them to survive on their own.

S: Bird lovers feed wild birds.

Answer Anticipation:
The difficulty in this question starts with the question itself! We're calling it a Principle (Paradox) because it deals with a principle, but the correct answer will explain why this seemingly contradictory statement can align with the principle.

Here, we should look for any answer that states why wild birds are the exception to the general rule. We're given a hint in the principle in the form of a reason why humans shouldn't feed animals—it makes them less likely to survive on their own. The correct answer will probably state why this doesn't apply to wild birds in particular.

Answer Explanation:
Here's our answer. These birds actually require human intervention to survive. They're an exception to the general rule, since not feeding them has the same or worse effect as feeding them.

Key Takeaway:
Don't get too tripped up by a weird question stem. Figure out what it wants you to do, and then tackle the question using strategies related to more common question types that are related.