PrepTest 117

Incorrect. The argument doesn't require several examples to prove the point. In fact, the example provided doesn't even speak to the conclusion, since that conclusion is about the explanation for the different tidal ranges. It's not a flaw to fail to give multiple examples when multiple examples aren't needed for the argument to work.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Errors in Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
Phenomenon — Tides go up and down
Explanation (Premise) — The only forces involved are the sun and moon's gravity
Conclusion — The tides can be explained entirely by gravitational forces

Answer Anticipation:
There's a lot of extraneous information in this stimulus. It starts with a definition which, while great for background, doesn't really play into the argument. The specific example of how wide these ranges can get also doesn't do much for the argument itself since the conclusion is about an explanation for the ranges.

The only piece of information that plays directly into that conclusion is the forces that are involved in inducing the tides. These forces are only" the gravity of the sun and the moon. Based on no other forces acting on the tides, the argument concludes that these forces must make up the "entirety" of the explanation for the tidal ranges.

While there can't be any other forces in the explanation of the tidal ranges, that doesn't mean that there can't be other factors in determining them. Let's find an answer bringing up that there could be other things influencing the tidal ranges outside of the gravitational forces.

Answer Explanation:
This answer brings up another factor—something other than a force—that could influence tidal ranges. If other conditions (water temperature, number of rocks, sand density . . . we're just making things up here, but you get the point) play into tidal range, then the argument's conclusion that the range can be "explained entirely" by gravitational forces is wrong. This answer, therefore, correctly points out what the argument fails to consider.

Key Takeaway:
Strong language in the conclusion is usually unsupported. Here, a claim that something was the "entire" explanation for a phenomenon was too strong, as the argument established that no other forces were involved, but other factors could be.

Incorrect. Even if they're measured in different ways, the measurements can still be accurate. Just because you measure one with a yardstick and the other with a buoy doesn't mean that your numbers aren't correct.

Incorrect. This answer goes past the argument. The conclusion is limited to discussing what goes into an explanation for tidal ranges, not for all ocean activity.

Incorrect. The two forces each act on the tides, so there's no need to distinguish between them unless the conclusion relies on that distinction. Since it lumps all gravitational forces together, it doesn't rely on that distinction, so this answer is wrong.