Q6 - Many high school students

[smiller]

Question Type:
Strengthen

Stimulus Breakdown:
Premises:
Contrary to what many high school students think, most journalists mainly cover local news;
and
most reporters work for local newspapers.

Conclusion:
High school career counselors should tell students what life is like for one of these typical reporters.

Answer Anticipation:
There are a couple of gaps in this argument. Why do we need to shatter the students' dreams? The argument is assuming that students should be told what a typical career in journalism is like. Why not let them dream big? It also assumes that career counselors should be the people who tell the students this. Why shouldn't they be told by their journalism teachers instead? A correct answer will help close one or more of these gaps.

Correct Answer:
(D)

Answer Choice Analysis:
(A) "Should not be encouraged" puts this answer choice out of scope. The conclusion of the argument states that students should be told about the reality of a journalism career. Stating that they shouldn't be encouraged isn't enough. The counselors could refrain from encouraging the students without actually telling them what a typical career in journalism is like.

(B) The word "unattainable" puts this answer out of scope. A journalism career that involves glamorous international news might not be typical, but does that mean it's unattainable? Also, nothing in the stimulus involves maximizing someone's chance of living a happy life.

(C) "Reaching the top levels" puts this answer out of scope. It's possible that telling a student the cold hard facts about her chosen profession will inspire her to strive for the pinnacle of that career, but we don't know that. It's just as likely that she'll lose interest in journalism. This answer doesn't help us conclude that counselors should tell students the facts about journalism.

(D) This answer choice does what we need. It states that career counselors should correct students' misconceptions about their chosen careers (a.k.a. "disabuse" them).

(E) The word "encourage" is really what puts this answer out of scope. We don't know if telling students about a typical reporter's life will encourage or discourage them. We also don't know if students who choose a career in journalism will regret that decision, even if the reality doesn't match their expectations.

Takeaway/Pattern: Understand exactly what is being presented in the premises and conclusion of an argument. Be wary of answer choices that seem related, but could be interpreted in too many ways to be useful.

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