PrepTest 143, Section 4, Question 22
Librarian: Some argue that the preservation grant we(63 more words not shown)
The claim that the town's(20 more words not shown)
- AIt is a(11 more words not shown)
- BIt is the(9 more words not shown)
- CIt is a(12 more words not shown)
- DIt is a(8 more words not shown)
- EIt is a(9 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Losing the original charter could matter even if we have copies. A town might value the physical document for its history or sentimental importance. So I wouldn't dismiss the case for saving it just because the words exist elsewhere.
The librarian gives a particular priority, though: this is a research library, and the money should preserve documents with scholarly value. The original charter lacks that value, according to the librarian. We might question whether scholarly value should outweigh every other concern, but we can still see why the librarian recommends spending the grant elsewhere.
What we’re looking for
Now the question asks about the claim that the charter will soon deteriorate beyond repair. Whose case does that help? It gives the people who want restoration a reason to act now. The librarian rejects their recommendation without denying that the document is in danger.
Working the answers
- A
The librarian doesn't try to show the charter will remain intact without restoration. There is no claim that the paper is safe from deterioration. The response concerns whether saving this original is the best use of the grant, even given the risk of losing it.
- B
The rejected conclusion is that the grant should be used to restore the charter. The prediction of deterioration is a reason offered for that conclusion. B mistakes the supporting fact for the recommendation it is meant to support.
- CCorrect
The charter's impending deterioration supports the argument for restoring it. The librarian then rejects that argument's conclusion and recommends preserving other documents instead. So the claim is a premise in the opposing argument, not a premise offered for the librarian's own recommendation.
- D
If anything, impending deterioration helps the people urging restoration. The librarian supports spending elsewhere with the charter's lack of scholarly value, the availability of copies, and the library's research purpose. D assigns the challenged sentence to the wrong side of the discussion.
- E
The librarian could make the same case even if the charter weren't about to deteriorate. A research library could still prefer spending its money on documents with scholarly value. The risk of losing the charter explains the opposing proposal; its truth isn't required for the librarian's reason to favor other documents.
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