PrepTest 148

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Valid

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Virtue = Praiseworthy
Resentment isn't virtuous
Resentment is a kind of faithfulness
Therefore Ð Whether faithfulness is a virtue depends in part on what the person is faithful to

Answer Anticipation:
The content of this passage is a little difficult to get through, but we can focus on the structure to find the main point instead of focusing on the content itself.

Here, a generalization is presented in the first statement. There are no indicator words suggesting this is a premise or conclusion, so we can't tell. Generally, though, this generalization will either be supported by an example in the rest of the argument (in which case it's the main point) or applied to a specific scenario, in which case it's a premise.

Here, the rest of the stimulus supports it with an example—it highlights resentment, which is a type of faithfulness that isn't virtuous. Anything supported by an example is a conclusion, so that first sentence is our main point.

Answer Explanation:
This answer restates the first sentence, which was a generalization backed up by an example, so this is the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
Generalizations are generally either conclusions that are supported by examples, or premises that are applied to a situation.

Incorrect. This is a premise that sets up the example as being relevant in reaching the conclusion.

Incorrect. This is an implication of the previous premise, which then goes on to show an example of faithfulness that's not virtuous, supporting the opening generalization.

Incorrect. This answer isn't stated in the argument, so we can rule it out.

Incorrect. This is an implication of the previous premise—either a premise itself, or an intermediate conclusion that serves as an example to support the generalization.