PT142.S2.Q8

PrepTest 142 - Section 2 - Question 8

Add bookmark

Summarize Argument: Counter-Position

Theodora concludes that Marcia is wrong in claiming that vegetarianism cannot lead to nutritional deficiencies. She supports this by saying that if most people became vegetarians, those in meat industries would lose their jobs, fall into poverty, and struggle to afford a healthy diet.

Identify and Describe Flaw

This is an example of a “straw man” argument, where the author misrepresents her opponent’s argument, making it easier to attack. Here, Theodora concludes that Marcia is wrong in claiming that vegetarianism cannot lead to nutritional deficiencies. But Marcia never made this claim. Instead, Marcia claimed that not all vegetarian diets lead to nutritional deficiencies. So Theodora is attacking a distorted version of Marcia’s argument, rather than her actual argument.

Question

Theodora's reply to Marcia's argument

• a) is directed toward

• b) ignores the results

• c) takes for granted

• d) uses the word

• e) takes for granted

Difficulty

• 81% of people who answer get this correct
• This is a moderately difficult question.

CURVE

• Score of students with a 50% chance of getting this right
• 25%129
• 143
• 75%157

Analysis

Question Stem Tags

• Flaw or descriptive weakening

Stimulus Tags

• Causal reasoning
• Misdirected response

Answer Popularity

• a: 81%
• b: 5%
• c: 5%
• d: 5%
• e: 4%