PrepTest 131

Incorrect. This answer explains why scholars/scientists prefer eBooks, but it doesn't weigh in on what audience publishers will target with their release format.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen

Stimulus Summary:
Scholars/scientists (research libraries): Electronic formats more convenient
General public (bookstores/public libraries): Prefer other formats, such as printed books
Conclusion: eBooks won't soon replace printed books.

Answer Anticipation:
This stimulus compares the preferences of two groups—scholars/scientists, and the general public. It determines that the former might prefer electronic books, but the latter prefers printed formats. From that, it concludes that printed books will continue to remain, well, in print.

In order to reach that conclusion, it is assuming that publishers will meet the preferences of the general public instead of just scientists/scholars. But there's no indication that that group's preferences will determine the format in which books are released. For the conclusion to hold, we need to know that publishers are going to continue to release books in a format preferred by the general public.

Answer Explanation:
This answer establishes that the publishers will continue to target the general public, who prefers printed books (or, at least, formats other than eBooks). That strengthens the conclusion of the argument.

Key Takeaway:
First, be sure to rephrase conclusions like this to reflect the actual opinion of the author instead of the opinion of the opposing point. In stating that an opposing point is "exaggerated," the author is committed to believing that that point won't fully come to pass.

Second, when comparisons are drawn, track them! Here, the argument contrasted the general public to scholars/scientists, and the conclusion "sided" with one of them. The argument, however, never establishes which of the two groups is relevant in determining book releases, so the correct answer needed to.

Incorrect. This answer may strengthen the split between public and researchers/scholars, but that doesn't do anything to establish which group publishers will target with their release format.

Incorrect. The argument establishes that "something other than an electronic format" will continue to be preferred by the general public, so a few outliers (as this answer suggests) won't be enough to sway the majority. Additionally, even if that weren't the case, this answer undercuts the argument by raising the possibility that the public's preferences could change to an electronic format.

Incorrect. First, this answer compares eBooks to borrowing books from the library, leaving open the possibility that this group would prefer to purchase the book from a bookstore in printed format. Second, in talking about "[s]ome" members of the general public, this answer is too weak to make an impact. The argument is about the overall preferences of the group, so some outliers won't change that conclusion.