PrepTest 130

Incorrect. Drainage and retention are noted as an example showing that the industrial approach to problem solving results in problems for farming, but it never establishes that this example is the "most important" part of farming.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Illustration

Stimulus Summary:
(Long example about drainage and water retention). Therefore, the industrial approach to problem solving usually leads to oversimplification in farming.

Answer Anticipation:
Yes, we cut out the entire example provided by the stimulus. The reason for that is that the question type—Illustration—is asking us to generalize from the stimulus. Since the stimulus itself provides a conclusion that is supported by the example, that conclusion has already done most of the work for us. Here, Madden believes that the industrial approach to problem-solving "usually leads to oversimplification" in farming. That's the generalization that he supports with the specific example. The correct answer should reflect that conclusion, and so we should not get bogged down in the specifics of the example and instead rely on the big-picture statement that starts Madden's argument.

Answer Explanation:
Madden's conclusion is that problems arise when the industrial problem-solving approach of simplifying is used in farming, it "usually leads to oversimplification." If simplification of problems in farming usually leads to oversimplification, then it's the case that these problems should not be simplified—or, in other words, they should be viewed in their full complexity. This answer paraphrases the general conclusion drawn by Madden, so it's correct.

Key Takeaway:
Illustration questions are all about generalizations. Examples are one expression of that generalization. And when an argument provides a general conclusion based on an example in an Illustration question, the stimulus has already done most of the work for you!

Incorrect. The argument only compares farmers to industrialists, so this answer is too extreme in stating that farmers are better than anyone else at addressing their problems.

Incorrect. While the industrial approach to problem-solving "usually" leads to oversimplification, that leaves room for it to sometimes be an effective approach. This answer is too extreme in stating that it should "never" be sought.

Incorrect. While the approach may usually create issues when applied to farming, it may have plenty of areas of application where it's appropriate, so calling it fundamentally flawed is too extreme.