PrepTest 148

Incorrect. The argument doesn't require that there are no significant changes to humans over time, just that emotional tendencies and wisdom are unchanged. Physical changes are out of scope of the argument, so any changes there wouldn't affect the argument.

Incorrect. While this answer connects wisdom and emotions, it doesn't establish that a lack of changes to emotions means that decisions haven't gotten wiser over time. That relative term ("more wisely") isn't backed up by this answer.

Incorrect. This answer is way too specific and out of scope in bringing up learning from history, a subject never discussed in the stimulus.

Incorrect. The argument doesn't require that emotions are the only factor in decision-making—just that it's an important one. Even if emotions are one of two factors going into decision-making, it'd still be possible that a failure to evolve emotionally would prevent more wise decision-making.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen with Necessary Premise

Stimulus Summary:
Human emotions haven't changed over time, so despite technology giving us more choices, we don't choose more wisely.

Answer Anticipation:
This argument jumps from a premise about us having the same emotions to a conclusion about us having the same wisdom. The argument never establishes that connection, however, so the correct answer will bring it up in some way.

Answer Explanation:
This answer connects changes in emotions to making wiser choices. If humans could make wiser choices even without essential changes to emotional dispositions, then the argument falls apart.

Key Takeaway:
Strengthen with Necessary Premise questions that feature a new term in the conclusion will frequently have correct answers that connect a term from the premises to that new term, so be on the lookout for that in a question similar to this one.