- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8950
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:00 am
#27346
Complete Question Explanation
Must Be True—PR, SN. The correct answer choice is (C)
This stimulus contains a fairly simple conditional relationship: if we notice that a lot of people enjoy some food, then we will eventually like it too once we are accustomed to the food. When you observe any conditional relationship, be careful not to draw inferences on the basis of a Mistaken Reversal or a Mistaken Negation. Such inferences are commonly found among the incorrect answer choices in these questions. The final clause of the stimulus is mostly superfluous, since it is fairly obvious that we must become familiar with something before we will come to like it. However, the test makers may use this clause to write a distracting answer choice.
Answer choice (A): For this answer choice to be correct, Maxine’s love of pasta must be based on her observation that many other people enjoy eating pasta. Instead, it is based on her experimentation with some of her neighbor’s pasta recipes, not noticing a “lot of people.” Thus, answer choice (A) does not conform to the principle in the stimulus and is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): The stimulus is about liking food, not disliking food, and with the conditional relationship in place there is no way to conclude that someone dislikes a food. In addition, even if the answer choice was about liking food, there is a problem with the numbers of people observed consuming the food. Could we prove that Mike has observed that “a lot of people” consuming the food? A few of his family members enjoy them, and although the term “a few” does not have a precise logical definition, “a few” does not constitute “a lot of people.” Therefore, in several different ways this answer does not conform to the principle and is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. George stayed with his Ukrainian relatives for several summers, where he likely observed that they “love” to consume pierogis and he would have become accustomed to pierogis as well. “All of George’s Ukrainian relatives” qualifies as “a lot of people,” and therefore George’s fondness for pierogis conforms closely to the stated principle.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice is similar to (B) in that there is no way to conclude that someone dislikes a certain food. That point aside, it is not logical to conclude that many of Yolanda’s relatives do not enjoy eating pickles. After all, pickles are sour and even people who do enjoy them may wince when eating them (some people may even enjoy consuming pickles precisely because it makes them wince). Therefore, for several reasons, we cannot prove that Yolanda’s pickle palate preference conforms to this principle.
Answer choice (E): Sally’s palate was initially too sensitive for jalapeño peppers until she became accustomed to them. However, we are not told whether or not Sally likes jalapeño peppers. Without this information, we cannot determine if this statement conforms to the principle.
Must Be True—PR, SN. The correct answer choice is (C)
This stimulus contains a fairly simple conditional relationship: if we notice that a lot of people enjoy some food, then we will eventually like it too once we are accustomed to the food. When you observe any conditional relationship, be careful not to draw inferences on the basis of a Mistaken Reversal or a Mistaken Negation. Such inferences are commonly found among the incorrect answer choices in these questions. The final clause of the stimulus is mostly superfluous, since it is fairly obvious that we must become familiar with something before we will come to like it. However, the test makers may use this clause to write a distracting answer choice.
Answer choice (A): For this answer choice to be correct, Maxine’s love of pasta must be based on her observation that many other people enjoy eating pasta. Instead, it is based on her experimentation with some of her neighbor’s pasta recipes, not noticing a “lot of people.” Thus, answer choice (A) does not conform to the principle in the stimulus and is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): The stimulus is about liking food, not disliking food, and with the conditional relationship in place there is no way to conclude that someone dislikes a food. In addition, even if the answer choice was about liking food, there is a problem with the numbers of people observed consuming the food. Could we prove that Mike has observed that “a lot of people” consuming the food? A few of his family members enjoy them, and although the term “a few” does not have a precise logical definition, “a few” does not constitute “a lot of people.” Therefore, in several different ways this answer does not conform to the principle and is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. George stayed with his Ukrainian relatives for several summers, where he likely observed that they “love” to consume pierogis and he would have become accustomed to pierogis as well. “All of George’s Ukrainian relatives” qualifies as “a lot of people,” and therefore George’s fondness for pierogis conforms closely to the stated principle.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice is similar to (B) in that there is no way to conclude that someone dislikes a certain food. That point aside, it is not logical to conclude that many of Yolanda’s relatives do not enjoy eating pickles. After all, pickles are sour and even people who do enjoy them may wince when eating them (some people may even enjoy consuming pickles precisely because it makes them wince). Therefore, for several reasons, we cannot prove that Yolanda’s pickle palate preference conforms to this principle.
Answer choice (E): Sally’s palate was initially too sensitive for jalapeño peppers until she became accustomed to them. However, we are not told whether or not Sally likes jalapeño peppers. Without this information, we cannot determine if this statement conforms to the principle.