Summary
People have some common complaints about computers: it can be hard to correct mistakes with digital bills, and sometimes computer files get lost. On the other hand, people are really attached to some benefits of computers, like ultra-speedy searches, or the convenience of word processors over typewriters.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
The stimulus conforms to the following principles:
Sometimes, people’s complaints about a particular technology are outweighed by the benefits of that technology.
People may be unwilling to give up a particular technology even though they have some complaints about it.
The same technology can have both drawbacks and benefits.
Sometimes, people’s complaints about a particular technology are outweighed by the benefits of that technology.
People may be unwilling to give up a particular technology even though they have some complaints about it.
The same technology can have both drawbacks and benefits.
A
The fact that people complain about some consequences of technology cannot be taken as a reliable indication that they would choose to live without it.
This is strongly supported. In the stimulus, we see that people complain about computers, but even so, they would not want to live without computers. In other words, people’s complaints do not indicate that they would choose to live without computer technology.
B
If people do not complain about some technology, then it is probably not a significant factor in their daily lives.
This is not supported. The stimulus never indicates a link between complaining about a technology and that technology being significant to people’s daily lives. Our only example is computers, which people do complain about, so that’s not useful here.
C
The degree to which technologies elicit complaints from people is always an accurate measure of the extent to which people have become dependent on them.
This is not supported. We only know about one single technology, computers—that’s definitely not enough to say whether complaints are “always” an accurate measure of dependency.
D
The complaints people make about technological innovations are more reliable evidence of the importance of those innovations than the choices people actually make.
This is not supported. The stimulus doesn’t indicate that either people’s complaints or their choices can be used as evidence of a technology’s importance. In fact, the stimulus doesn’t mention how to determine a technology’s importance at all.
E
The less willing people are to do without technology the more likely they are to complain about the effects of technology.
This is not supported. The stimulus only offers information about computers, one single type of technology. That doesn’t give us enough information to support a principle about technology in general.
"Surprising" Phenomenon
Why do blues fans and musicians derive such enjoyment from music with sorrowful lyrics?
Objective
The correct answer will be an unsatisfactory hypothesis, because it won’t explain why fans and musicians find fulfillment in blues lyrics that are predominantly sorrowful.
A
The sharing of blues music serves to create a cohesive, sympathetic social network.
This explains why blues enthusiasts find positive meaning in the music. Though the lyrics are sorrowful, they inspire a sense of community that can be joyful.
B
Blues musicians who do not draw on their personal tragedies are no more successful than blues musicians who do.
This addresses the success of blues musicians, but not their personal response to the music. It does not imply whether blues music that draws on personal tragedies is more or less fulfilling than blues music that does not.
C
The irony and wit found in the blues provide a sense of perspective on life’s troubles.
This explains why blues enthusiasts find fulfillment in the music. The lyrics are sorrowful but instructive, offering a perspective that is rewarding.
D
The realization that other people share one’s plight is helpful in dealing with life’s problems.
This explains why blues enthusiasts find fulfillment in the music. Though sorrowful, blues lyrics inspire a sense of camaraderie that can be rewarding.
E
The conversion of personal sorrow into an artistic work can have a cathartic effect on artists and their audiences.
This explains why blues enthusiasts find positive meaning in the music. Creating and sharing art inspired by negative emotions, like blues music, provides a catharsis that can be rewarding.
"Surprising" Phenomenon
Why is the percent of garments reported as recycled scrap 9% even though the percent of garments considered unsalable, which are all included in the garments recycled as scrap, is 7%?
Objective
The correct answer should differentiate between the category “garments reported as recycled scrap” and “garments considered unsalable” in a way that would lead the recycled scrap % to be higher. For example, maybe there are additional items that are part of garments reported as recycled scrap besides just garments considered unsalable.
A
Garments with minor blemishes are sent to wholesale outlets for sale at discounted prices and are not returned for recycling.
If garments aren’t recycled, then they aren’t considered unsalable either, because everything unsalable is part of recycled scrap. So, this tells us about garments that aren’t part of either the recycled category or unsalable category. This has no impact.
B
The percentage of garments returned by retail outlets as unsalable includes, in addition to defective merchandise, garments in unacceptable styles or colors.
We already know that all unsalable garments are part of the garments recycled as scrap. Additional details about what kinds of garments are unsalable doesn’t add any relevant information.
C
Some inspectors, in order to appear more efficient, tend to overreport defects.
Unsalable garments include those reported by inspectors as defects. The actual defects don’t matter; only the reported defects. So overreporting of defects doesn’t impact the comparison between unsalable garments and recycled garments.
D
The total number of garments produced by the manufacturer has increased slightly over the past year.
The stimulus never compared stats across different years, so this information doesn’t impact the comparison between unsalable garments and recycled garments.
E
Unsalable garments are recorded by count, but recycled garments are recorded by weight.
The % of unsalable garments is calculated in a different way compared to the % of recycled garments. This could account for why the first figure was 7% and the second was 9%. The garments considered unsalable (and sent to recycling) could be heavier than other garments.