PrepTest 109

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument/Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed/Flawed

Question Type:
Must Be True

Stimulus Summary:
M: Favilla's style is distinctive, but her subject matter is not varied enough, so she's not a great writer.

J: Diverse subject matter isn't required for a writer to be great—just deep theming. So using that criterion is wrong.

Answer Anticipation:
John makes two statements that can lead to inferences:
(1) A great writer doesn't need diverse subject matter
(2) A great writer must be able to explore a theme deeply

These are essentially two principles, so since we have them laid out, let's head to the answers to find one that lines up with either one.

Answer Explanation:
This answer lines up with John's first statement. Since a writer doesn't need diverse subject matter to be great, Favilla shouldn't be excluded from that category just because her subject matter isn't particularly varied.

Key Takeaway:
For some Must Be True questions, framing the statements of someone as principles that can then be applied to answers can be an easy way to set up a framework for analysis.

Incorrect. This answer is contradicted by John's second premise, where he says that an ability to explore a theme deeply is something a great writer must be able to do. If Favilla can't hit a necessary condition for being a great writer, then she's not a great writer.

Incorrect. John brings up the ability to explore a theme deeply as a necessary condition for being a great writer, not a sufficient one, so this answer reverses his statement.

Incorrect. John's first statement says that varied subject matter isn't a requirement for being a great writer—that doesn't mean having varied subject matter is a disqualifier for being a great writer.

Incorrect. Muriel discusses a distinctive style, not John, so this answer is out of scope of his statements.