PrepTest 146, Section 2, Question 14
A study at a company found that most(57 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(9 more words not shown)
- AIn general, a(22 more words not shown)
- BMost meetings at(12 more words not shown)
- CA meeting at(21 more words not shown)
- DAccording to a(15 more words not shown)
- EA study of(15 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Would a clock make the meeting productive, or are organized people running better meetings? Perhaps they set an agenda, keep discussion focused, and also establish a clear time frame. The observed connection wouldn't, by itself, tell us that the time limit caused the productivity.
What we’re looking for
The author nevertheless draws a rule from the study: to achieve maximum productivity, a meeting needs a clear time frame and must last no longer than 30 minutes. We can question that inference while still identifying it as the conclusion. The observations about diminishing returns and productive meetings are supposed to support those two requirements. For the main-conclusion question, keep the direction straight. Maximum productivity requires the two features. The author hasn't said that any meeting with those features is guaranteed to be maximally productive.
Working the answers
- A
This says a short meeting with a clear time frame will generally achieve maximum productivity. That makes the features enough to obtain the result. The conclusion instead says they are needed for the result. A meeting could be short and clearly scheduled yet accomplish little because nobody is prepared; having the required features isn't the same as guaranteeing success.
- B
This is a finding from the study, offered as evidence for the recommendation about meeting length. The author then uses that observation to claim what a maximally productive meeting requires. B stops at the evidence.
- CCorrect
'Only if' identifies requirements: a maximally productive meeting must have a clear time frame and last no more than 30 minutes. That matches both parts of the author's final claim, without turning them into a promise that every short, scheduled meeting succeeds.
- D
The finding about clear time frames supports one part of the conclusion. The main point goes beyond describing the studied meetings and identifies what a meeting needs to reach maximum productivity. D also leaves out the conclusion's requirement about length.
- E
The observation about little productivity after 60 minutes helps support the author's view that meetings should be limited. But the actual conclusion sets a 30-minute maximum and also requires a clear time frame. E reports a supporting observation rather than those requirements.
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