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#36506
Complete Question Explanation

Must Be True—Principle. The correct answer choice is (B)

The stimulus is comprised of two pieces of advice regarding fashion:
  • Premise: A classic suit may be in style for as long as fi ve years, so one should pay more
    to be sure it is well constructed.

    Premise: A trendy hat that will go out of style in a year or two should be purchased as
    cheaply as possible.
The question stem asks which of the answer choices most accurately expresses the principle
underlying the reasoning above. In prephrasing an answer, one should look for an answer choice that
indicates that it is acceptable to spend more for clothes that will last, but not much should be spent
on clothes that will be likely to fall out of fashion in the short term.

Answer choice (A): The author of the stimulus asserts that better quality should be paid for when the
item is likely to stay fashionable. The author does not make the assertion that formal attire generally
lasts longer or is better constructed. In fact, no comparison of design and construction between
formal and casual wear is ever made in the stimulus, so this answer choice should be eliminated.

Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice, as it articulates the principle prephrased
above: The amount of money one spends on clothing should be proportional to the length of time one
expects to be wearing the article of clothing.

Answer choice (C): This answer choice provides a universal rule that ignores the second conditional
statement in the stimulus, which advises that one spend as little as possible on an item like a trendy
hat. One should only opt for the available well-constructed garment, according to the author of the
stimulus, when that garment is likely to be in style for fi ve years or longer.

Answer choice (D): This answer choice is a “could be true,” but the stimulus contains no information
at all distinguishing men’s clothes versus women’s, so there is no way to know whether or not this
would be the advice suggested by the author, so this choice should be eliminated.

Answer choice (E): This incorrect answer choice might look appealing, because some test takers
may have the opinion that the purchase of offi ce attire might provide a more appropriate use of
funds. Because the author of the stimulus does not distinguish between offi ce attire and casual attire,
however, there is no way to draw this conclusion based on the information provided in the stimulus.

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