PrepTest 143, Section 4, Question 19
Principle: When none of the fully qualified candidates(44 more words not shown)
Which one of the following,(9 more words not shown)
- AAll of the(14 more words not shown)
- BOf all the(18 more words not shown)
- CKrall works for(15 more words not shown)
- DSeveral candidates currently(9 more words not shown)
- ENone of the(19 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
We know Delacruz is fully qualified. Why does that rule out Krall?
The hiring principle has a condition attached. It tells Arvue to choose the most productive candidate when none of the fully qualified candidates already works there. It doesn't tell us what to do if a fully qualified candidate is already an employee.
My first concern is whether Krall might be such an employee. If so, the condition wouldn't be met, and this principle wouldn't settle whether to hire Krall. That doesn't mean the principle orders the company to hire from within. It means the rule would be silent about that situation.
What we’re looking for
The question asks for facts that justify rejecting Krall under this rule. We need to check both whether the rule applies and whether its instruction actually points to someone other than Krall. Delacruz's being qualified, on its own, hasn't settled either issue.
Working the answers
- A
This ensures the rule applies: no candidate, and therefore no fully qualified candidate, works at Arvue. But being fully qualified isn't the same as being equally productive. Krall could be the most productive of these qualified applicants. A never gives us the comparison needed to reject Krall.
- B
Delacruz would be the most productive outsider. But what if a fully qualified applicant already works at Arvue? Then the rule's condition isn't met. B supplies a ranking within the outside group without establishing that this is a situation where the principle requires choosing the most productive candidate.
- C
We learn that Krall is an employee and Delacruz would be most productive, but we still don't know that none of the fully qualified candidates works there. If Krall is fully qualified, the condition fails. If Krall isn't, another fully qualified employee might still be applying. C doesn't ensure the principle can be used.
- D
Neither Krall nor Delacruz works there, but other candidates do. We don't know whether those employees are fully qualified, so we don't know whether the rule applies. And D never says who would be most productive. Even if the condition turned out to be satisfied, Krall might be the person the rule selects.
- ECorrect
This supplies both missing pieces. No candidate already works at Arvue, so certainly no fully qualified candidate does. The principle therefore directs Arvue to hire the most productive candidate.
E then identifies that candidate as Delacruz. Following the rule means hiring Delacruz rather than Krall, which justifies the application. Notice how much more we needed than merely establishing that Delacruz was qualified: we needed the rule's condition satisfied and its productivity comparison resolved.
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