PrepTest 141, Section 2, 25. Student: Before completing my research paper…

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

Only the right answer will be a conclusion supported by the passage. You wouldn’t know that just from the prompt, but we can see the blank in the argument is the conclusion that follows from the “since…” statement.

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

There is no conclusion in the passage. The right answer will be the conclusion.

Student: [BACKGROUND]. [SUPPORT]. Hence, since [SUPPORT], ______.

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

(A) I will have to include an inaccurate citation

We definitely don’t know that for sure. The passage says the student needs the book for the accurate citation, but doesn’t say whether they’ll get the book or not.

(B) I will be unable to complete my research paper

There’s no support in the passage for the student not completing the paper, only for the paper not being as good as it could be.

(C) if I do not find the book, my research paper will suffer

This is almost the same as the support in the passage. It said the “paper will be much better with the quotation”, which is in the book. So without the book, the paper suffers. Boom.

(D) …I will include the quotation without an accurate citation

Liar! The passage says “without an accurate citation, I will be unable to include the quotation.” Naturally a conclusion can’t conflict with other info in the argument.

(E) …I will be unable to complete my research paper

Same as (B): There’s no support in the passage for the student not completing the paper.

(C) is the correct answer.

Common pattern/s in this question: When the right answer is a conclusion supported by the passage, focus on eliminating any answers that bring in something new, or use stronger wording than the passage uses.