Often, a product popularly believed

Answer choices

1. A

   Weak Evidence/Conclusion Match9% picked this

   Often, choosing the best job offer is a matter of comparing the undesirable features of the different jobs. Thus, those who choose a job

   In the original argument, the comparison between Product X (believed to be best of its type) and competing products had nothing to do with comparing the downsides. And the conclusion wasn't saying, "Watch out — your choice may have an upside but also a downside". The conclusion was saying, "You're not choosing based on this upside (quality), but rather based on that upside (prestige)."

   9%
2. B

   Bad Match1% picked this

   Most people have little tolerance for boastfulness. Thus, although one’s friends may react positively when hearing the details of one’s accomplishments, it is unlikely

   It's hard to even get off the ground with this one. There's no choice between options, which are equally good except for some tangential concern. And the conclusion here doesn't sound anything like, "Just be aware that you're putting extra into this choice for the tangential concern, not the primary concern".

   1%
3. C

   Bad Match3% picked this

   Those beginning a new hobby sometimes quit it because of the frustrations involved in learning a new skill. Thus, although it is fine to

   Again, the evidence seems to have nothing to do with choosing between options of equal quality. And the conclusion isn't saying, "You should realize that your extra investment is for thing X, not thing Y". This conclusion is offering advice that makes a causal prediction: "you're more likely to get X if you do Y"

   3%
4. D

   Correct82% picked this

   Personal charm is often confused with virtue. Thus, while there is nothing wrong with befriending a charming person, anyone who does so should realize

   Why this is right

   This is a decent match, but really it's just better than all our alternatives. It's suggesting that people often confuse charm with virtue, which is similar to saying that people often believe a product is the best because of its reputation rather than its quality. "Quality" and "virtue" make some sense as a match, whereas charm / reputation is more of a superficial quality. The original conclusion was saying, "just be aware you're paying extra for reputation, not quality", which is similar to saying, "just realize that you're befriending someone for their charm, not their virtue (of being a good/loyal friend)." It's a very weak match, since in the original argument people are able to choose between different products of the same type. It's not clear that when you befriend a charming person, you were able to choose between different friends of the same type. And the original conclusion implied, "You'll get quality either way, but you're paying extra for prestige". This answer's conclusion is more like, "You're getting charm (prestige), but you might not get virtue (quality)." This is a good reminder that we're looking for best available answer, not perfect answer.

   Skill tested: Parallel · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   82%
5. E

   Bad Match5% picked this

   Many theatrical actors cannot enjoy watching a play because when they watch others, they yearn to be on stage themselves. Thus, although there is

   The conclusion here is instructing people to stop having a certain behavior. The original conclusion was much less overbearing. It was only telling us to be mindful of something, should we choose to do it. And the evidence doesn't have any feel of "underlying quality vs. some sort of superficial appeal".

   5%