PrepTest 139

Incorrect. The level of motivation of those on this path is out of scope—it's unmentioned and it isn't directly related to any of the concepts in the stimulus.

Incorrect. Talent and competence aren't equivalent, and talent is never discussed in the stimulus.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen with Necessary Premise

Stimulus Summary:
Medical specialist → Undergrad degree AND 4 years of med school AND 2-6 year residency AND Complete evaluation program by specialty board
Therefore - A medical specialist is competent

Answer Anticipation:
Wow, that's a lot of requirements to be a medical specialist! Law school's looking like an even better option . . .

Here, there's a long list of things that one must go through to qualify as a medical specialist. However, these requirements are never noted as guaranteeing the new term in the conclusion—competence. The argument is very much trying to get you to believe that anyone who went through all of that education/training must be competent, but it never directly establishes that, and it's therefore an assumption of the argument. The correct answer will likely connect that judgment in the conclusion to a qualification in the premises.

Answer Explanation:
This answer connects the new judgment in the conclusion to a concept in the premise. If incompetent people do complete the evaluation program, then it can't be guaranteed that the long list of qualifications one need to go through in order to qualify as a specialist—culminating in the evaluation program—guarantees competence. The argument would fall apart, so this answer is necessary for it to work.

Key Takeaway:
When a Strengthen with Necessary Premise question introduces a new term in the conclusion, the correct answer will likely connect it to a term established in the premises.

Incorrect. The argument establishes that after this training, one must go through an evaluation program. Since the argument adds another level of qualification after the 6-10 years of training, it doesn't require an assumption that most people who get through the training are competent. After all, the evaluation program might only let 10% of people pass, in which case 50+% of people wouldn't need to be competent after the medical training.

Incorrect. This answer is similar to (D), switching around a sufficient condition for a necessary one. However, it's wrong for a different reason—while these steps are necessary for one to qualify as a medical specialist, that doesn't mean they're required for someone to be competent in that area.