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Weak answer choice in Necessary Assumption

Cookie MoonCookie Moon Member
in Logical Reasoning 264 karma

I am a little confused about the weak answer and strong answer choice in necessary assumption question. So it said in the CC that we should always look for weak answer choice, and most strong answer choices are wrong when it comes to NA question.

But sometimes I also see strong answer choice as the correct answer. For example, PT 24 Section 2, Q17. The AC B : "no nation that was not among the major powers at the end of the second world war would become a major power"

Is this a strong language AC? So in a situation we should focus on weak/strong language AC?

Thank you!

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Comments

  • learn2skipQslearn2skipQs Member
    730 karma

    depends on the stimulus
    try to match the force of the stimulus.

  • Confidence150Confidence150 Alum Member
    edited July 2020 1417 karma

    Necessary assumption has to be within the scope of the argument and has weaker answer choice than sufficient assumption ACs.

    Strong answer choices for sufficient assumptions as the sufficient can be fulfilled in many ways.

  • DINOSAURDINOSAUR Member
    591 karma

    Usually NA answer choices are weak. But the most important thing is, the answer choice is MBT for the stimulus. If it is not true, then the argument falls apart. So even if the AC is strong, if you negate it and the argument falls apart, it is the correct AC.

  • danielbrowning208danielbrowning208 Alum Member
    531 karma

    Relying on heuristics like "look for weak ACs in NA questions" will only take you so far. Yes, the correct answer for NA questions is often worded weakly, as that makes the AC easier to support. But the test writers know many students rely on this heuristic, so they design clever traps for students based on it.

    For instance, arguments with strong conclusions often have strongly worded necessary assumptions. So don't eliminate an AC just because it is strongly worded; pay close attention to the argument and its commitments. Then look for an answer choice whose negation prevents the premises from supporting the conclusion. That's your NA.

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