PrepTest 114

Incorrect. The Ethicist concludes that certain factors need to be taken into consideration, but she doesn't state how those factors should be weighed. This answer goes a step beyond what she says to making a determination with the factors she raises in the conclusion.

Incorrect. The stimulus doesn't discuss effectiveness. It's noted that TPA would save more people, but that might be because of factors other than it's clot—dissolving effectiveness. Since this answer isn't stated in the argument or implied as the conclusion, it's incorrect. Even if you treated effectiveness in dissolving clots as being the same as saving lives, this would still be the results of the study—a premise.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Valid

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
(Medicine and stats). However, family members of those who die because the deceased were given the cheap stuff will be pretty sad, so the finances have to be weighed against the human cost.

Answer Anticipation:
Our Summary is a bit reductive, but it highlights how you should be approaching these Main Point questions—don't get too bogged down in the details, and focus on the structural elements that tell you what the main point is.

Here, we start with a medical fact and then the results of studies. Both of these types of statements are almost assuredly premises.

The argument then pivots, suggesting that the "true" argument is starting and it pivots to a "since" statement. Since introduces a premise that's going to include the conclusion it supports in the same sentence and since this makes up the rest of the argument we can tell that the closing clause is the main point:
The financial savings of using ASA over TPA need to be weighed against the grief of the survivors of those few who died from using the cheaper drug.

Answer Explanation:
The conclusion of the argument is that the expense of TPA needs to be weighed also against the grief of the survivors—so not "simply" against the extra lives saved. This answer reflects the conclusion and is thus correct.

Key Takeaway:
For Main Point questions don't dive too much into the logic of the question unless you need to (for instance to determine an intermediate conclusion vs. a main point). Use structure to help you figure out what's supporting what and then quickly move to the answers.

Incorrect. This is a premise/background for the argument.

Incorrect. The stimulus does note that the family members of those who received the ASA will be "particularly grieved" but this is the since part of the last sentence, so it's a premise, not the main point.