PrepTest 124

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen

Stimulus Summary:
MV and TCH's new album:
(1) Complex rock music
(2) Acoustic instrumentation and harmonic sophistication of jazz
(3) Witty lyrics with puns and humor
Jackie likes MV
Therefore - Jackie will like TCH's new album

Answer Anticipation:
This argument relies entirely on similarities between Moral Vacuum and The Cruel Herd's new album to draw it's conclusion that Jackie will like a band. The primary premise ("Since. . . ") even makes that clear, stating that Jackie's love of MV is the reason that she'll like TCH's new album.

As with any argument that crucially relies on two things being similar, it can be strengthened with another relevant similarity. Let's head to the answer choice to find yet another way that Moral Vacuum and The Cruel Herd's new album are similar.

Answer Explanation:
This answer starts with a misdirect in that it brings up Jackie's previous distaste for the band, but it then pivots to a similarity between MV and TCH's new album. Is that similarity relevant? Absolutely. Even if you don't know what a musical arranger does, it must have something to do with the music, and this answer directly ties into TCH's new album. As such, this answer brings up a relevant similarity between the music of MV and TCH's new album, strengthening the argument that Jackie will like the latter since she likes the former.

Key Takeaway:
When a Strengthen question relies crucially on two things being similar, the correct answer frequently features another relevant similarity. Note the stress on relevant.

Incorrect. This answer would need to state that this producer has worked on Moral Vacuum's albums in order to strengthen the argument. Just because someone is one of the "most widely employed" producers doesn't mean that they work on the type of music that Jackie enjoys.

Incorrect. This is a very tempting answer, as it does bring up a similarity between the two bands. However, it's not a relevant similarity because the locations where a band plays aren't inherently related to the quality or even the type of music—just look at any major venue that swings wildly from one genre to another from show to show. It also doesn't establish that Jackie goes to these clubs, so this answer doesn't even necessarily apply to the situation at hand.

Incorrect. Another tempting answer, but this answer is too broad to positively affect the argument. It'd be akin to saying that, "All the food TestMax's employees prefer to eat is edible," to strengthen the argument that we like a certain type of food that's edible.

Incorrect. If anything, this answer highlights a difference between the lyrics on TCH's new album (which is noted as including wit, puns, and humor—not somberness and political awareness). Differences weaken arguments based on similarities.