PrepTest 147

Incorrect. The argument states that a university education isn't useful because the students already have these qualities. Presumably, they'd still have them after their graduation, but then college didn't add anything relevant to their skillset.

Incorrect. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Errors in Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
Top attributes corporations want in employees—initiative, flexibility, problem solving
Many high school grads have these attributes
Therefore: For many high school grads, college won't help them get a corporate job

Answer Anticipation:
The conclusion here is exceptionally strong—a university degree would be of "no help" in getting a corporate job. While we know that many high school grads already have the attributes that corporations find most valuable in potential employees and thus college might not be useful to these individuals in developing them, there could be other attributes that are still valued that corporations value.

Since the conclusion is absolute in stating that universities would provide "no help" in getting a job, any answer that highlights or suggests there is any amount of help provided by a university degree in getting a corporate job would point out that flaw.

Answer Explanation:
The stimulus lists qualities that corporations value most, but that doesn't mean the list is exhaustive. If corporations also value something that one can only get at a university, then going could be some help in getting such a job.

Key Takeaway:
Look for extreme language in conclusions. When you see something like "irrelevant," "no help," or "without benefit," there only needs to be a note of one thing being relevant, helping, or providing a benefit to prove it wrong!

Incorrect. The stimulus doesn't assume that corporations only hire individuals with these traits, but rather that people with these traits wouldn't be helped in getting a job by going to the university. Even if there are plenty of individuals with these traits who don't get hired, university could still be a waste of time if it adds nothing to the job prospects of individuals.

Incorrect. The motive of people in attending a university is out of scope—the argument is about only whether there is a benefit in doing so, not whether the benefit is related to why the individuals engage in the activity.

Incorrect. The argument works whether these traits can be learned or not since it states that the university doesn't teach these individuals something valuable since they already have that trait.