Logical reasoning PrepTest 155 · Section 4 · Question 10

Incorrect. While this answer brings up a benefit of being protected, it doesn't suggest that spiders are doing that protection, so this answer doesn't strengthen the argument.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen

Stimulus Summary:
Some plants make EFNs, which attract ants that protect them from other bugs. EFNs also attract spiders, so the spiders must also protect the plants from other bugs.

Answer Anticipation:
There's not much evidence that the spiders are protecting the plants, other than they have a similarity to ants, which are known to protect them. The correct answer, therefore, is pretty wide open—we should be open to any answer that suggests the spiders might be helping the plants. Similarities between spiders and the protective behavior of ants could also be correct.

Answer Explanation:
While indirect, this answer does strengthen the argument by suggesting that spiders help the plants. If spiders are correlated with an increase in EFN plant population, that provides evidence that the spiders are protecting the plants.

Key Takeaway:
For Strengthen questions, be sure that the answer you select connects to the assumption. Here, the assumption had to do with spiders, so the correct answer would have to bring up answers relevant to them.

Incorrect. While this answer makes protection important for EFN-producing plants, it doesn't connect the spiders to the protection, so it doesn't strengthen the argument.

Incorrect. If anything, this answer weakens the argument by suggesting that similar bugs (other spiders) don't protect the plants.

Incorrect. This answer doesn't connect to the spiders at all, so it doesn't strengthen the argument.