- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8916
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Sat Jul 01, 2017 8:09 am
#36667
Complete Question Explanation
Point at Issue. The correct answer choice is (E)
Antonia advocates investing in the volatile stock market because it provides the opportunity to make a
large profit quickly. Maria recommends savings bonds instead because a reliable income is better than
a volatile opportunity. The question stem asks test takers to identify what issue Maria and Antonia are
most likely to disagree about. As always, be careful to avoid answer choices about which both speakers
would have the same position or either speaker’s position is unclear. Using this rule, known as the Agree/
Disagree Test, answer choice (E) can be easily identified as the correct response.
Answer choice (A): Test takers should have no trouble eliminating this answer choice. Antonia quotes
this sentence nearly verbatim and Maria also agrees with it. Since both speakers believe this answer is
true, it cannot be the correct choice.
Answer choice (B): While Maria advocates investment in savings bonds, she does not necessarily believe
that savings bonds can provide a large return. Antonia does not refer to saving bonds at all and since
neither speaker’s position can be clearly determined, this answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): Again, this is a clear Loser. Neither speaker believes the stock market to be a constant
or reliable investment.
Answer choice (D): Maria certainly would agree with this position, based on her contention that savings
bonds provide a reliable income. However, Antonia’s position regarding this statement is unclear, as
she does not mention savings bonds in her argument. Regardless, it cannot be known that the speakers
disagree with each other over this point.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. Maria would agree that a reliable investment is
better than a volatile one, while Antonia feels that the best investment is a risky opportunity to make a
large profit quickly. This is the only answer the passes the Agree/Disagree Test.
Point at Issue. The correct answer choice is (E)
Antonia advocates investing in the volatile stock market because it provides the opportunity to make a
large profit quickly. Maria recommends savings bonds instead because a reliable income is better than
a volatile opportunity. The question stem asks test takers to identify what issue Maria and Antonia are
most likely to disagree about. As always, be careful to avoid answer choices about which both speakers
would have the same position or either speaker’s position is unclear. Using this rule, known as the Agree/
Disagree Test, answer choice (E) can be easily identified as the correct response.
Answer choice (A): Test takers should have no trouble eliminating this answer choice. Antonia quotes
this sentence nearly verbatim and Maria also agrees with it. Since both speakers believe this answer is
true, it cannot be the correct choice.
Answer choice (B): While Maria advocates investment in savings bonds, she does not necessarily believe
that savings bonds can provide a large return. Antonia does not refer to saving bonds at all and since
neither speaker’s position can be clearly determined, this answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): Again, this is a clear Loser. Neither speaker believes the stock market to be a constant
or reliable investment.
Answer choice (D): Maria certainly would agree with this position, based on her contention that savings
bonds provide a reliable income. However, Antonia’s position regarding this statement is unclear, as
she does not mention savings bonds in her argument. Regardless, it cannot be known that the speakers
disagree with each other over this point.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. Maria would agree that a reliable investment is
better than a volatile one, while Antonia feels that the best investment is a risky opportunity to make a
large profit quickly. This is the only answer the passes the Agree/Disagree Test.