PrepTest 134, Section 3, Question 12
Some gardening books published by Garden Path Press(56 more words not shown)
The argument requires the assumption(1 more words not shown)
- Asome gardening books(16 more words not shown)
- Bgardeners should not(13 more words not shown)
- Can explanation of(16 more words not shown)
- Deveryone who understands(14 more words not shown)
- Eno gardening book(13 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Is the difference between hot and cold composting part of the basics?
Maybe it is. But the argument hasn't told us that. A gardening book could leave out an advanced technical distinction while still explaining everything a beginner needs. In that case, omitting the distinction wouldn't show that the book fails to explain the basics.
We do have a rule: a book that recommends compost but doesn't explain at least the basics is flawed. And we know some Garden Path books recommend compost while omitting the hot-versus-cold distinction. The author connects those facts by treating that distinction as a required part of a basic explanation.
What we’re looking for
That's the assumption we need. If a book can explain the basics without explaining hot versus cold, the omission no longer puts it on the flawed side of the rule. Don't get pulled into deciding how someone should garden. We're evaluating what a book must explain.
Working the answers
- A
The argument can establish that some books are flawed without assuming that any others are unflawed. Whether a different book gets everything right doesn't supply the missing connection between this particular omission and failure to explain the basics.
- B
This says gardeners should thoroughly understand composting before using compost. That's a rule for gardeners' conduct, not an explanation of what counts as the basics in a book. Someone could use compost without thorough knowledge, and the author could still demand a basic explanation from books recommending it.
- CCorrect
Explaining the basics must include explaining the hot-versus-cold difference. Now the books' omission shows that they haven't explained the required basics. Since these books recommend adding compost, the stated rule applies and supports the conclusion that some Garden Path books are flawed.
- D
This gives one way to understand the basics: understand the hot-versus-cold difference. We need that difference to be a required part of the basics. Those aren't the same. There could be other ways to understand the basics, so saying one route is enough doesn't show that a book missing that route has failed.
- E
A book could explain composting beautifully and still contain bad advice about watering or planting. The argument never needs to rule out those other flaws. It gives one basis for finding a book flawed, not a guarantee that including the basics makes the entire book flawless. E also leaves unanswered whether hot versus cold belongs among those basics.
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