PrepTest 120, Section 4, Question 14

What we’re looking for

Working the answers

• A
  Correct

  There might be more than one practical joker. If Miller carried out the prank with an accomplice, the accomplice's handwriting on the note would fit perfectly well with Miller's involvement. Franklin moves from “she didn't write this note” to “the joker is someone else” without addressing that possibility.

• B

  We don't need a precise percentage of similarity to make our objection. Franklin says the writing isn't Miller's, and we can grant that. The problem remains because authorship of the note and involvement in the prank needn't belong to the same person.

• C

  Franklin does give a reason to suspect Miller: she has always been jealous. Whether that would be strong evidence of guilt is a separate question. The conclusion here is that Miller apparently isn't responsible, and the flaw concerns using the handwriting to rule her out.

• D

  There may be a reason this is the only available clue, but explaining that reason wouldn't fix the inference. One piece of evidence could be sufficient or insufficient depending on what it establishes. Here, this clue doesn't eliminate the possibility of an accomplice.

• E

  Franklin argues from handwriting that isn't Miller's. That doesn't require taking a position on what would follow if the writing were hers. Even in that different situation, there could be further questions about the note and the prank. E attributes an additional claim instead of identifying the missing possibility in the argument actually made.