PrepTest 148

Incorrect. This is an analogy that supports the conclusion about the idea to spend the budget surplus on paying down the national debt.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Leaders Ð Use the budget surplus to pay down the national debt
Problem Ð The country's infrastructure and military are falling apart
Analogy Ð It'd be like a homeowner paying down their mortgage while letting their house fall apart
Conclusion Ð The Leaders's idea makes no sense

Answer Anticipation:
As with all Main Point questions, we should focus on the argument structure much more than the logic, as that structure will help us figure out the main point. Logic can help when we've identified multiple conclusions and the structure doesn't tell us which one is intermediate and which one is subsidiary, but we should always start with structure.

Here the Citizen starts by highlighting something that the country's leaders wish to do. Then, she pivots to an opinion on that action—it "makes no sense." The author's opinion of an opposing point is generally the main point of the argument, so that should be our baseline assumption here.

From there, she goes into a bunch of problems with the country that would, presumably, be a better use of funds—thus supporting why it makes no sense to pay down the national debt. And from there, she goes into an analogy talking about household expenses, and analogies are meant to support the conclusion about whatever is being analogized.

So the rest of the argument is all meant to support the Citizen's view of the government's idea on how to use the budget surplus—it makes no sense.

Answer Explanation:
This answer reflects the Citizen's view on the opposing point, which is supported by the information about the current needs of the country and the analogy to household spending.

Key Takeaway:
The author's opinion of an opposing point is generally a main point. An analogy will almost always be a premise. These general rules of thumb can significantly cut down the amount of time Main Point questions take. But they can also help to get through other questions faster by letting you analyze the structure of an argument quickly, freeing up time for you to analyze the logic.

Incorrect. This answer is an assumption of the argument that allows the analogy to serve as support. Since it's unstated (it is an assumption), it can't be the main point.

Incorrect. This answer is a paraphrase of what the Citizen believes would be a better use of the budget surplus, thus supporting the conclusion that spending it on paying down the national debt makes no sense.

Incorrect. This reflects the idea that the Citizen is arguing against.