PrepTest 116

Incorrect. Antonia states this in her argument, and Maria agrees (at least with the potential for large profits), so this is, if anything, a point of agreement between them.

Incorrect. We can't commit either speaker to an opinion on this answer. Antonia states that stocks are best because they can provide a large profit quickly, so she could believe that bonds are inferior because they provide a large profit slowly, or a large but not as large profit. Maria believes that bonds are better because they provide constant, reliable income, but she may believe that this income is moderate, not large, and the reliability makes up for the size of the return.

Incorrect. Maria likely disagrees with this statement since she believes bonds are superior to stocks because they provide a constant, reliable income. Antonia, on the other hand, doesn't state an opinion on the potential for anything to provide such a reliable income, so this answer is out of scope of her statements.

Incorrect. Maria agrees with this, basing her argument for the superiority of bonds on their reliability. Antonia doesn't mention bonds, so this is out of scope of her argument.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument/Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed/Flawed

Question Type:
Point at Issue

Stimulus Summary:
A: Stock market — Volatile, but you can make a lot of money fast. So it's best to invest there.

M: Yes, but the stock market can also lose you money. Bonds — constand and reliable. So it's better to invest in bonds.

Answer Anticipation:
Both Antonia and Maria are discussing the same topic—where one should invest their money. Antonia believes that it's best to invest in stocks, while Maria believes savings bonds are superior to stocks.

Antonia doesn't discuss bonds, but her language (best place") commits her to believing stocks are better than them. Maria does discuss stocks, stating that they do provide the opportunity for big gains, but she brings up the risk—they're also a potential source of loss. She brings up the stability and constancy of bonds as a reason they're better.

So the two disagree on where it's better to invest money, and what one should look for in an investment. Let's find an answer in that area.

Answer Explanation:
Both speakers agree that there's risk in the stock market. Antonia, in stating that investing in stocks is the "best place" to invest, is committed to believing that other options—including any potential ones that are less risky than stocks—aren't as good as stocks, so she'd disagree with this answer. Maria argues that bonds are better than stocks because reliable income is more important than risking money on a big win or loss. This is therefore the point at issue between the two.

Key Takeaway:
When looking for points at issue between two speakers, we generally start by identifying ideas they both talk about. This will highlight both points at issue and points of agreement, but identifying the latter can be helpful in avoiding trap answers, so don't shy away from doing so.