PrepTest 141, Section 2, Question 25
Student: Before completing my research paper, I want(55 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(6 more words not shown)
- AI will have(5 more words not shown)
- BI will be(6 more words not shown)
- Cif I do(9 more words not shown)
- Dif I do(13 more words not shown)
- Eif I do(13 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Let's find the book. The student wants to use a quotation, needs an accurate citation to include it, and needs the book to write that citation. Finding the source matters for a concrete reason: the quotation would make the finished paper better.
What we’re looking for
That's my initial reaction to the unfinished argument. But we should follow exactly what the evidence supports when choosing the ending. No book means no accurate citation; no accurate citation means no quotation. Keep that chain in mind and see which choice draws the right consequence for the paper.
Working the answers
- A
The student doesn't have to include an inaccurate citation. Finding the book could allow an accurate one, and omitting the quotation would avoid needing its citation altogether. The evidence never forces the student to cite something inaccurately.
- B
Nothing establishes that the student cannot finish the paper. The book might be found, and even without it the student could finish a paper that leaves out this quotation. The quotation affects how good the completed paper will be, not whether completion is possible.
- CCorrect
If the student doesn't find the book, the quotation can't be included. Since the finished paper would be better with that quotation, it will lose that benefit without it. “The paper will suffer” expresses that relative loss in quality. This is a more precise consequence than my initial “Go find the book” reaction, and it follows the whole chain.
- D
This contradicts the student's stated requirement. Without an accurate citation, the student says the quotation cannot be included. D instead has the student including it anyway. We should follow the rule supplied, not invent a decision to disregard it.
- E
Not finding the book prevents this quotation from being included. It doesn't prevent the paper from being completed. The student explicitly compares a completed paper with the quotation to one without it, so a finished but less effective paper remains possible. E changes a loss in quality into an inability to finish.
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