PrepTest 133

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Critics of consumerism - Ads convince people they need stuff that they only really want
Rebuttal - It's sometimes impossible to distinguish a want from a need
Conclusion - The criticism rests on an unclear distinction

Answer Anticipation:
The argument opens with what "[m]any critics" insist, which is almost certainly an opposing point. That's reinforced by the pivot in the next statement ("However"), where the Editorial brings up a criticism of that viewpoint. Criticisms of opposing views are almost always main points, and the final statement in the stimulus backs that up by supporting the pivot statement. If wants and needs are often impossible to distinguish from each other, then the critics are resting their accusation on a "fuzzy distinction" between those two ideas.

Answer Explanation:
This answer reflects the Editorial's opinion of the opposing point, backed up by the final sentence, so it's the main point.

Key Takeaway:
An opinion of an opposing point is almost always the main point of an argument.

Incorrect. This is the opposing point.

Incorrect. This opinion isn't stated anywhere in the argument, so it's out of scope.

Incorrect. The Editorial never accuses the critics of failing to recognize that some things are required for happiness, just that it can be impossible to distinguish between wants and needs.

Incorrect. This answer is too broad—the stimulus is about one argument, not what critics of consumerism "often" do.