PrepTest 152

Incorrect. Acreage is listed as just one example of the new measures, and the argument doesn't discuss ease.

Incorrect. The stimulus isn't about which method of measuring is more accurate, just more appropriate for land earmarked for certain uses.

Incorrect. This is the conclusion about what was the case when plow time was used as a unit of measure, that the author then pivots away from.

Incorrect. While this answer sounds similar to the conclusion, there are some key differences. The stimulus mentions necessity, and this answer doesn't. This answer mentions people realizing something, and the conclusion in the stimulus doesn't. Those two differences (and the presence of answer (E)) makes this answer wrong.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Land was sometimes measured in "plow time," which isn't useful for those who want to build apartments on a plot, so new measures of land size were needed as land was used for things other than farming.

Answer Anticipation:
The argument here has two conclusion indicator words ("Thus"; "Therefore"). That "Thus," however, is followed by a pivot word ("However"), showing that the author pivots away from it, making it very likely that the other conclusion is the main point. The pivot statement supports that final statement, confirming that final statement as the main point.

Answer Explanation:
This answer paraphrases the last sentence, so it's correct.

Key Takeaway:
There would be nothing wrong with being stuck between answers (D) and (E) here. At that point, you should do two things—compare the two answers to the stimulus, and compare them to each other. The first lets you see any key differences between the answer and the stimulus. The second lets you identify what's different between the answer choices so you can compare that to the stimulus and see if it lets you pick an answer. The most important thing is that you have a process for when you're down to two answers.