Logic Breakdown

Passage Summary: Because lake trout always look for the coldest water, and the cold spots in a lake swap places between summer and winter, you should change where you fish depending on the season.

Conclusion: Anglers seeking lake trout in late winter should fish in shallow bays or near the surface rather than in the trout's summer locations.

Reasoning: Lake trout prefer the coldest water, and while the coldest water is at the bottom in the summer, it moves to the top of the lake in the winter.

Analysis: The argument assumes a direct link between the 'coldest water' and the specific locations mentioned, such as shallow bays or rocky points. For the conclusion to hold, it must be true that these specific areas actually contain that cold water during the late winter. If the coldest water were located elsewhere, the advice to fish in those specific spots would fall apart. Look for an answer that bridges the gap between the temperature of the water and these specific geographic locations.

Passage Stimulus

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17.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

Correct Answer
E
E connects the crucial timing: if a lake still has ice residues in late winter, turnover has not yet occurred. Negation test: if turnover has already occurred despite surface ice, the coldest water might not be near the surface, and the advice to fish shallow would no longer be supported. That collapses the argument, so E is necessary.
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