PrepTest 107

Incorrect. This answer is an intermediate conclusion ("so") that establishes the goal, but the Mayor moves on to discuss the best approach to it, so it's a subsidiary conclusion.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Goal - Grow/attract more residents
Approach - Renovate the train station
Why? - For various reasons, people want to live in towns with good train travel

Answer Anticipation:
This question stem asks us what conclusion the argument leads to. This could be a Main Point question if the conclusion is stated in the stimulus, or a Must Be True question if it isn't. Since the stem specifically notes that the stimulus presents an argument, we should expect the conclusion to be stated there. However, if you viewed this through a Must Be True (or even Argument Completion (Must Be True) lens), you likely would have ended up with the right answer.

The argument itself falls into a common pattern—a goal is presented (grow/attract more residents), and the Mayor presents an approach (train station renovation) that she believes is "best." She then provides the reason that she believes it's the best approach (people want to live in town that have good trains).

In general, the author's preferred approach in reaching a goal will be the main point in an argument that conforms to this pattern. Here, since she provides the reasons she believes that the train station renovation is the best approach, it is the main point. Let's find an answer reflecting that.

Answer Explanation:
The Mayor notes that efforts "should" be made to attract more residents, and the "best strategy" for doing this is to renovate the train station, so this answer reflects her conclusion and is thus correct.

Key Takeaway:
When the author of an argument presents a goal and a preferred approach, that preferred approach is almost always the main point of the argument.

Incorrect. The Mayor never discusses those who need jobs—just that there are more jobs in Center City than there used to be. This answer is unstated and unsupported, so it can't be the main point.

Incorrect. The Mayor doesn't discuss how people should commute, but rather their preferences for a commute, so this answer isn't her main point.

Incorrect. The Mayor doesn't believe this is the case yet! She's arguing for a renovation of the train station so that it is true and people are attracted to Center City.