PrepTest 136, Section 2, Question 6
Most apartments on the upper floors of The(21 more words not shown)
The conclusion of the argument(10 more words not shown)
- AAll of the(11 more words not shown)
- BAll of the(7 more words not shown)
- CMost of the(7 more words not shown)
- DMost of the(12 more words not shown)
- EMost of the(11 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Where are the studios? More than half of the upstairs apartments have scenic views. Fine. But the studios might all be downstairs. Even if some studios are upstairs, they might fall within the minority of upstairs apartments without a view. Putting one studio upstairs wouldn't settle the question.
We need an added fact that guarantees at least one studio with a view. Making every upstairs apartment a studio would work. In fact, making most of the upstairs apartments studios would be enough: two groups that each take up more than half of the same set have to overlap.
What we’re looking for
Be careful about which group we're counting. “Most studios are upstairs” would not do the same job. There could be three studios, two upstairs, with both upstairs studios among the apartments lacking a scenic view. We need the studios to occupy most of the upstairs apartments, not merely most studios to be located upstairs.
Working the answers
- A
This gives the downstairs apartments views, but it doesn't tell us that any of them are studios. The building could contain only larger apartments. A view isn't enough; we need at least one apartment that also has the required layout.
- B
Even a view from every apartment doesn't establish that the building contains a studio. We would still need that additional fact to guarantee a studio with a view. Don't let the broad promise of views make the missing studios disappear.
- C
Most apartments in the whole building could be studios because the lower floors contain many studios. The upstairs majority with views might consist entirely of larger apartments. The two majorities here concern different groups, so they needn't overlap.
- D
This describes where most apartments with views are located. It never introduces a studio. Like A and B, it leaves open a building with no studio apartments at all.
- ECorrect
Most upstairs apartments have views, and most upstairs apartments are studios. Those groups must overlap. Imagine ten upstairs apartments: if six have views, only four lack them. Six studios cannot all fit into those four apartments without views. At least some studios must have views. The same overlap works for any number of upstairs apartments, because both groups contain more than half of them.
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