PrepTest 121

Incorrect. When the author states an opinion of an opposing point, it usually falls into one of two categories—that point is wrong, or that point's premises don't fully establish its conclusion. In stating that the opposing view's conclusion "is not the case," the Commentator here is saying that it's wrong, not just invalid. This answer is describing the other common opinion expressed, not the one that the Commentator here actually expressed.

Incorrect. This answer is a part of the intermediate conclusion. These market pressures keep the media impartial, which means that a view that there is a liberal bias in the media is wrong.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Opposing point: Most journalists are liberal, so there's a liberal bias in the media.

Commentator: News outlets are businesses and must target a wide customer base to make money, so market pressures keep them impartial, and there isn't a liberal bias in the media.

Answer Anticipation:
This argument falls into a common pattern for Main Point questions (especially ones that are in the first half of the section).

It starts with an opposing point—what is "often concluded." From there, it pivots ("however") to the author's opinion of that viewpoint—here, that "[it] is not the case" that there is a liberal bias in journalism. The author's opinion of an opposing point is almost always the main point of the argument, a determination backed up by the rest of the stimulus providing support for that opinion.

Here, the Commentator's opinion of the opposing point is followed up with support introduced by the premise indicator "because." It then goes on to have another conclusion ("therefore") that's supported by its own premise ("since"), so we should take a second to make sure that this is an intermediate conclusion. And, in this case, it is—it makes more sense to say that news outlets face market pressure to stay impartial so they don't have a liberal bias rather than the other way around.

So we should look for an answer reflecting the pivot statement—that there isn't a liberal bias in the media.

Answer Explanation:
The opposing point concludes that there is a liberal bias in journalism. The Commentator states that this isn't the case, which is the same as saying that there isn't a liberal bias in journalism. This is therefore the main point of the argument.

Key Takeaway:
The author's opinion of an opposing point is usually, when present, the main point of an argument. Make sure to note whether that conclusion is that the opposing point is wrong, or that it doesn't fully support the conclusion.

Incorrect. This answer reflects a statement introduced with "since," so it's a premise (that supports the intermediate conclusion).

Incorrect. This answer reflects the opposing point.