PrepTest 136

Incorrect. This answer may align with the argument, but it doesn't justify the conclusion that using peat moss is unsound. It only leaves it open that it's possible it's unsound.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen (Principle)

Stimulus Summary:
Gardeners: Peat moss is renewable and contains no chemical additives, so using it in a garden is environmentally sound.

Author: Making peat moss depletes something that releases a lot of oxygen into the atmosphere, so using peat moss is not environmentally sound.

Answer Anticipation:
In Strengthen (Principle) questions, we want to find an answer that justifies the judgment in the conclusion based on the details in the premise.

Before we dig into the author's argument and our anticipation there, we should start by highlighting what won't be relevant to the answer—the opposing point, or the view of the gardeners. Their view is that the practice is sound, so their basis for that won't justify the opposite conclusion. At most, a detail from their view will play into the answer choice as an "even if"—e.g., "Even if a resource is renewable . . . "

So on to the author's argument! The judgment she draws is that using peat moss is not environmentally sound. Why not? Well, making it depletes something that releases a lot of oxygen into the atmosphere. So we need to find an answer that connects those two:

Any practice that substantially reduces the amount of oxygen contributed to the atmosphere is not environmentally sound.

Answer Explanation:
Sphagnum moss releases oxygen. Using peat moss depletes the total amount of sphagnum moss, thus decreasing the amount of oxygen entering the atmosphere. This answer establishes that doing so makes a practice not environmentally sound, justifying the conclusion of the argument based on the established premises.

Key Takeaway:
Unless their reasoning is specifically referenced in the author's half of the argument, opposing points generally don't factor into answer choices outside of, "Even if . . . " statements. While you shouldn't ignore that portion of the argument, you should downplay the role of any details brought up only by them in your anticipation.

Incorrect. This answer justifies something as environmentally sound, so we can eliminate it almost immediately.

Incorrect. The sufficient condition of this answer doesn't apply to the use of peat moss, and the conclusion justified by it is that a practice is environmentally unsound, so this answer is wrong for two reasons.

Incorrect. First, the conclusion is about a practice by the gardeners, not the garden soil industry, so this answer applies to the wrong group. Second, there's no talk of banning a practice.