PrepTest 114

Incorrect. The length of use of the appliance is surely relevant to how disappointed one might be if they don't get what they expect, but it doesn't establish why they'd be disappointed in this situation to begin with, so this answer is out of scope.

Incorrect. If model numbers can tell consumers which "version" of a model they're getting then the practice in question is even less problematic than the stimulus would suggest as consumers can tell if they're getting the updated one or not. This answer helps the argument.

Incorrect. The consumer would be looking to get the model they saw or read about by model name, so there being an identical model out there under another name wouldn't factor in to what this consumer purchases.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Weaken

Stimulus Summary:
Appliance manufacturing practice — Modify existing models without giving a new model name
Problem — It makes it hard for consumers to know if they're getting the same appliance they're expecting
"Fix" — The modifications are "invariably" improvements
Conclusion — Consumers don't have much of a reason to complain

Answer Anticipation:
Let's start with the conclusion here ignoring the rest of the argument—consumers "have little reason" to complain about a practice. Without even knowing what the rest of the argument states seeing a conclusion like this should make you think that the answer is going to raise a reason that whatever the practice is can hurt consumers and that the argument is likely to raise some ways that it's good but ignore other ways that it's bad. With that in mind we should identify the practice and how it might lead to problems.

The practice here is appliance manufacturers updating models but not giving them a new name. Why is this a problem? The stimulus notes that one issue is that consumers might not get the exact same model that they saw in their friend's house or read about in a review. But then it's noted that this isn't a problem because the updates are "invariably" improvements—no wiggle room there. If you accidentally buy the updated model you have no reason to complain because it's better.

However that leaves open a possibility that would be a problem—what if you see the updated model but end up buying the older model because you think it's the new one? That would create disappointment and give the consumer a reason to complain about the practice. Since there's a chance for disappointment the conclusion that there's "little reason" to complain is wrong. Let's find an answer that raises this possibility.

Answer Explanation:
This answer establishes the possibility that someone could buy the older version of the model. If the new version is out before the old version stops being sold then someone might buy that old version before it goes out of stock expecting the newer one. That would be a reason to complain about this practice.

Key Takeaway:
It can sometimes be helpful to think about the conclusion in isolation. What would the premises need to say to support this? Without knowing the argument behind it how would you go about attacking it? Having a general framework like that can help you see where the shortcomings are in the premises as you read through them.

Incorrect. Why the manufacturers engage in this practice isn't inherently related to consumer complaints about it, and this answer doesn't tie it into anything that consumers would complain about.