Q7

[Amir.m.shoar]

Hello, for this question I have two frames.


T: 2 1/4 __
M 5 4/1 __
B: 6

or

T: 1/4 3 __
M: 4/1 2 5
B: 6

So I'm stuck between answer choice (B) and (E)

[christine.defenbaugh]

Thanks for posting, Amir.m.shoar!

So, you're on the right track here. Your frames are fine, but you're not assessing the answer choices correctly. The question asks which one of the following could be the list of dishes that are stored together on the middle shelf. That means the list is the list, the whole list, and nothing but the list.

In both of your frames you have 5 on the middle shelf - so 5 MUST appear on that list, no matter what. That means there's no way that (A), (B), or (C) could be correct! And both of your frames require either 1 or 4 to also be on the middle shelf. So (D) can't be the list - where would 1 and 4 go if neither were on the middle shelf? That leaves you with only (E) - the complete middle shelf list could be 4 and 5, no problem!

Take a look at this (not framed) diagram:

Another way to look at it is this: look at your answer choices. Each of them is a list of two and only two elements. So you know that the scenario you want to find only has 2 slots open on the middle shelf. Since 5 must be on that shelf, and then either 1 or 4 must be also, all the spots are taken! The only possible 2 member lists for the middle shelf would be (5 and 1) or (5 and 4)!

You might draw it like this:

If you thought you were only looking for a pair of elements that could be on the middle shelf together, then a lot of answer choices work! Instead, we're looking for a list that could be the complete list for the middle shelf.

Does that help clear things up a bit?

[ttunden]

so then this is a MBT question then?

That's the only way I can justify E.