PrepTest 156, Section 2, Question 17
To measure a small boat hull accurately, it(73 more words not shown)
If the statements above are(11 more words not shown)
- AThe scientists did(13 more words not shown)
- BThe scientists accurately(10 more words not shown)
- CIf the scientists(17 more words not shown)
- DThe scientists were(14 more words not shown)
- EIf the scientists(18 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
They're unsure whether they leveled the hull. That doesn't mean they failed to level it.
To measure accurately, they need the hull level. To level it, they need a line level. Those requirements connect: an accurate measurement requires using a line level. Having the tool isn't a promise that the whole job will go well, but without it they lack something the passage says is required.
Now add the inexperienced scientists. Their lack of experience leaves them uncertain whether they leveled the hull before setting the baseline. My immediate reaction is that they can't be confident about the measurement on this basis. They might have done it correctly; we just aren't told that they did.
What we’re looking for
The question asks what must be true. We can look for a statement consistent with that uncertainty, but we should also keep the earlier requirements in view. A correct answer needn't summarize the entire story about these scientists.
Working the answers
- A
Being unsure about doing something correctly doesn't prove that you did it incorrectly. The passage connects the scientists' inexperience to their uncertainty, not to a demonstrated failure. A turns an unknown outcome into a definite bad outcome and then assigns its cause.
- B
Leveling is required, but it isn't stated to be enough. Scientists could level the hull correctly and still make some other measurement mistake. B promises an accurate result whenever they level the hull, which goes beyond the requirement we're given.
- C
Even if their measurement were inaccurate, lacking a line level needn't be the reason. They could have the tool but use it incorrectly, or make a mistake later. The passage gives one required tool; it doesn't make the absence of that tool the only possible explanation for failure.
- DCorrect
This simply connects the first two requirements: accurate measurement requires leveling the hull, and leveling requires a line level. So accurate recording of the dimensions requires using a line level.
Notice that D doesn't settle whether these scientists succeeded. It states what would have to be true if they succeeded. We don't need to resolve their uncertainty or prove they failed to know that this requirement applies.
- E
Experience is never stated to be required for success. An inexperienced scientist could perform the steps correctly, even while feeling uncertain. The passage explains why these scientists weren't sure; it doesn't establish that accurate measurement is impossible without an experienced person.
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