PrepTest 153

Incorrect. This is out, because it describes a premise, and we already determined this isn't one.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Argument Structure

Stimulus Summary:
A critic has a problem with pop culture's recent humanization of vampires, which used to be symbols of pure evil. Although the overall trend towards moral complexity is a good thing, this particular case isn't. Evil is a real thing and vampires were a good way to represent that, before we started making them relatable.

Strategy Overview:
This is a role question, so first things first, find the statement you're being asked about. In this case, "the overall trend in entertainment toward moral complexity is a good thing." Now, find the argument's conclusion and figure out how it's being supported. What part does the statement you identified first play in the argument (if any)?

Answer Anticipation:
The argument's conclusion is "this is unfortunate." We're being asked about a statement that does not support the conclusion, so it is neither premise nor a subsidiary conclusion. So, that takes care of the common answers in this category; we'll have to paraphrase how this relates to the argument, taking care to remember that it's neither supporting nor opposing the conclusion. It's a qualifying statement that clarifies the speaker's intent.

Answer Explanation:
Exactly, it qualifies the scope of the conclusion. The critic doesn't mean to suggest that narratives should never humanize villainous creatures. They just think it would be nice if we went back to using vampires as the symbols of pure evil they used to be.

Key Takeaway:
Not everything is a premise, subsidiary, or main conclusion. You can have background information, qualifying statements, counter-examples refuted by the argument, and many more. Eliminate the common answers first, and if it's none of those, paraphrase in your own words how the role statement contributes to the argument.

Incorrect. Aside from the lousy grammar in this answer choice, that's not the case. The critic implies that this argument needs to be made because vampires are increasingly humanized in media.

Incorrect. This statement is never rejected. We have every reason to think the critic still considers this to be true. They just want vampires to be an exception to the overall trend.

Incorrect. It's definitely not the conclusion! That was "this is unfortunate."