- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Aug 02, 2011
- Mon Jul 13, 2015 1:45 pm
#19087
Prep88,
Resolve questions require you to identify the answer choice that best resolves the paradox: the more direct the resolution, the better off you are. This is why in the December 2010 question (Section 4, Q. 7), the correct answer choice was (C). While (E) might be somewhat attractive, it only resolves the paradox if we introduce a lot of new information, some of which admittedly preposterous. By contrast, answer choice (C) doesn't require us to do that, and so it's by far the better answer.
A direct and explicit explanation of the paradox is certainly preferable, but if none of the answer choices provide it, then you need to choose the answer choice that best explains the paradox. After all, that's your job as per the stem. When it comes to the garment question (February 1999, Section 1, Question 25) the correct answer choice suggests that the two figures (7% and 9%) are calculated using different measures (count and weight, respectively). This is enough to suggest a possible way to explain the discrepancy. Although it would have been helpful if they added, "... and some of the garments being recycled are heavier than the average garment," test-makers are under no obligation to spell out the explanation fully, because no other answer choice came even close to answering the question.
Stay away absolutes. While it's important to know the principles governing your approach to each question type, success in LR is (also) a matter of making inherently comparative, contextual decisions.
Good luck!
Resolve questions require you to identify the answer choice that best resolves the paradox: the more direct the resolution, the better off you are. This is why in the December 2010 question (Section 4, Q. 7), the correct answer choice was (C). While (E) might be somewhat attractive, it only resolves the paradox if we introduce a lot of new information, some of which admittedly preposterous. By contrast, answer choice (C) doesn't require us to do that, and so it's by far the better answer.
A direct and explicit explanation of the paradox is certainly preferable, but if none of the answer choices provide it, then you need to choose the answer choice that best explains the paradox. After all, that's your job as per the stem. When it comes to the garment question (February 1999, Section 1, Question 25) the correct answer choice suggests that the two figures (7% and 9%) are calculated using different measures (count and weight, respectively). This is enough to suggest a possible way to explain the discrepancy. Although it would have been helpful if they added, "... and some of the garments being recycled are heavier than the average garment," test-makers are under no obligation to spell out the explanation fully, because no other answer choice came even close to answering the question.
Stay away absolutes. While it's important to know the principles governing your approach to each question type, success in LR is (also) a matter of making inherently comparative, contextual decisions.
Good luck!
Nikki Siclunov
PowerScore Test Preparation
PowerScore Test Preparation