PrepTest 141, Section 2, 14. Inez: Space-exploration programs…

How will the right answer fit in terms of support and conclusion?

Only the right answer will accurately describe the support and conclusion in Winona’s argument.

Highlight the main conclusion in the passage, if there is one:

It is absurd to try to justify funding for space exploration merely by pointing out that such programs will lead to technological advances.

Inez: [INTERMEDIATE CONCLUSION], since [SUPPORT]. [BACKGROUND]; [SUPPORT] that [CONCLUSION].

Winona: [CONCLUSION]. [SUPPORT].

So Winona is concluding that something is “absurd”, and supporting that with some if-then reasoning. The right answer will probably be more specific than that, so I’d expect to lean on careful mapping and process of elimination on a question like this. That’s true on pretty much any question with answers that describe the argument.

Map the wording of the answers to the wording of the passage:

(A) showing that there is no evidence that the outcome Inez anticipates…

Winona’s conclusion doesn’t say anything about missing evidence, and Inez’s argument never says she’s anticipating anything.

(B) suggesting that Inez has overlooked evidence…

Mmm no. Winona never said Inez was missing or ignoring anything, just that her support doesn’t establish her conclusion.

(C) …pieces of evidence that Inez cites contradict each other

Don’t be fooled. Just because support isn’t good enough to establish a conclusion doesn’t mean there’s a contradiction. That wording doesn’t map to anything Winona said.

(D) …can be achieved only at great expense.

Winona never says anything about how expensive this thing is gonna be.

(E) …a goal Inez mentions could be pursued without the programs…

Well process of elimination leads us here. And huzzah! The goal Inez mentions is the “technological advances”, and “space exploration” is the program. Winona says the goal/technological advances can be “funded directly” without exploring space. Boom.

(E) is the correct answer.

Common pattern/s in this question: You’ll see a handful of questions in every LR section with answers that describe the argument. Most of them will ask about a “flaw” or vulnerability, and pretty much all of them can be beaten by carefully mapping the wording of the answers to the wording of the passage.