PrepTest 122

Incorrect. The pivot here establishes that a premise of the opposing argument is false, not that the conclusion is, so we can rule this answer out.

Incorrect. This answer is very close! However, the conclusion is that both premises are false (and"), not that at least one is ("or"), so we can rule it out.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Valid

Question Type:
Parallel Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
Opposing point: Work of art → Evoke intense feelings
This sculpture — work of art
Therefore — This sculpture evokes intense feelings

Argument: This sculpture doesn't evoke intense feelings.
Therefore — Either it's not a work of art, or some works of art don't evoke intense feelings

Answer Anticipation:
This is a very interesting argument structure that introduces an opposing viewpoint through a relatively rare mechanism—and argument premised on a condition.

The opening line here starts with a conditional indicator, but it's not really establishing a conditional relationship. Instead, it's saying, If these following things are true, then this conclusion is valid." When that happens, it's very likely that the author of the argument is going to pivot away from that argument.

And that's exactly what happens here—starting with the "But." From there, the author shows that the conclusion is false, and from there work to show that at least one of the two premises of the opposing point must be false, as well.

The correct answer should do something similar—establish a conclusion that would be true if the premises are also true, but then show that the conclusion isn't true and thus one of the premises must be false, as well.

Answer Explanation:
This answer establishes that a conclusion (beta—carotene is safe in large doses) that would be true if two premises (vitamins are safe in large doses; beta—carotene is a vitamin) were true is actually false. It then concludes that at least one of the two premises also isn't true, just as the stimulus does.

Key Takeaway:
Pivot words generally dominate the structure of an argument. When you see one, make sure you understand what the argument is pivoting from and to. It will usually be pivoting from an opposing point to the main point (as it does here), but that won't always be the case.

Incorrect. This answer picks one of the two premises to be false instead of concluding that at least one of them is, without committing to a specific one.

Incorrect. The opposing argument has a single premise and a two—part conclusion, not two premises and a conclusion, so it's not the same. The presence of two premises in the opposing point was a key logical feature of the author's conclusion, which didn't commit to which was false.