Logical reasoning PrepTest 154 · Section 1 · Question 17

Incorrect. First, the stimulus is about objects following a similar pattern, not similarities causing one object's uses to be transferred to another. Second, this answer reverses the pattern, saying the similarity in the secondary use (currency) would cause a transfer of the primary use (adornment).

Incorrect. This answer fixes the reversal seen in (A), but it still has the first issue. The stimulus relies on objects following a similar pattern, from one use to another. It doesn't rely on an object that's used for a similar purpose having a secondary use transferred to that object. This answer would need information stating that people actively compared gold/silver/feathers to beads and determined that since the former became currency, so should beads. That's a step beyond just following a pattern.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen (Principle)

Stimulus Summary:
Beads were used as currency, but they were first jewelry. Many things that started as jewelry ended up being currency. So beads being used as jewelry explains why they became currency.

Answer Anticipation:
We're looking for a principle that justifies the reasoning in the stimulus, and that reasoning is based on a comparison between other objects used as currency and beads. In all of the cited cases, a common progression was followed—first, items were used as adornment, then they came to be used as jewelry. Any answer choice that establishes that similar objects can follow a similar pattern from one use (adornment) to another (currency) will justify this stimulus.

Answer Explanation:
This answer choice justifies the comparison that leads to a pattern being followed. An object (beads) having a certain original use (adornment) is likely to have the same derivative use (currency) as do other objects (gold, silver, feathers) having that original use. This answer also speaks to derivative uses instead of primary and secondary uses, which is closer to the language in the stimulus.

Key Takeaway:
For any question that has abstract answers (answer choices that speak in generalities instead of using the specific language from the stimulus), you should eliminate answers that have elements that clearly don't match up with the stimulus, and then—as we did here in (C)—go through the answer choice and "sub in" the specifics from the stimulus to see if it matches up.

Incorrect. First, the stimulus never notes that these objects stopped being used for adornment. Second, the stimulus is about a progression towards the derivative use, and this answer raises a requirement for something to take on a derivative use.

Incorrect. The stimulus is about things being used for decoration taking on value as currency. This answer starts with the object representing value—which is what currency is.