PrepTest 142

Incorrect. This statement is a principle that's applied to pianos to reach the conclusion, so it's a premise.

Incorrect. This answer is never directly stated in the argument, so it's not the main point.

Incorrect. While the stimulus does conclude that it would be wrong to classify the piano as a stringed instrument, it never states that some people do mistakenly misclassify it as such, so this answer isn't even in the argument—it can't serve as the main point.

Incorrect. This answer is the trap that we expected! If you're reading quickly and carelessly, this answer reads very much like the conclusion. However, it flips it—the stimulus concludes that the piano is percussion, not stringed.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Musical instruments are classified by action producing sound. Pianos make sound via hammers, so they're actually percussion instruments.

Answer Anticipation:
The first statement in this stimulus is a principle. While that could be a conclusion, it being followed by a statement that starts with, "So . . . " means that the second statement is a conclusion, and the first statement supports it. The final statement establishes facts that allow the principle from the first statement to be applied to pianos, and therefore that second sentence is the main point.

Note that the conclusion—Pianos are percussion instruments, not stringed instruments—suggests a trap answer for those who aren't careful! We'd put money on one answer being that pianos are stringed instruments, not percussion.

Answer Explanation:
Of course they put the right answer after that trap answer that mixes things up. This answer reflects the so statement from the stimulus that the other two statements supported, so it's the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
Main Point questions tend to be on the easier end, but that doesn't mean you can rush through them and read carelessly. There's nothing worse than picking (D) on this question when you knew the right answer, when you could have spent an extra 10 seconds to ensure you got this right. This also highlights why you should read all answers in LR questions—even if you fell for (D) when you read it, reading (E) should make you double check and read more carefully when it, too, sounds right.