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This is an example of the typical error that I haven't been able to shake. I'll spend numerous amounts of time on the LR trying to get these Q's right, and still fall short about 3 or 4.

Case in point is #10. Depsite narrowing it down to A/C, I went with C because if people are basing their votes on the character of a candidate, what good would it do them to follow the suggested technique for giving speeches to win votes? For about 10 minutes, I had to go back and look at A/C and the stimulus to figure out what I was missing. And then it hit me.....C doesn't mention anything about the speeches, and in fact, appears to strengthen the argument because if people tend to vote for a candidate on the basis of their character, then using a technique that makes the candidate come across as fair-minded and trustworthy to the voter would be helpful. Once again, I botched another stimulus. I keep thinking to myself, how in the world I'm going to recognize this in a 35-minute timed section?

The other issue is answer choices with wording like Q17. I got (B) by process of elimination, but these "play the following roles"
Q's with confusing wording are proving difficult for me to grasp. For example, how do I interpret "General Claim?" I've seen this answer choice wording come up several times and don't understand the prephase. Is it Winifred's conclusion about "most animals" having several ways of performing critical tasks, citing how "specifically" bees can navigate as evidence?

Anyway, thanks for the assistance. I'm so frustrated right now because while I think I'm getting it, I don't think I'm getting it.

DrackedaryMaster wrote:This is an example of the typical error that I haven't been able to shake. I'll spend numerous amounts of time on the LR trying to get these Q's right, and still fall short about 3 or 4.

Case in point is #10. Depsite narrowing it down to A/C, I went with C because if people are basing their votes on the character of a candidate, what good would it do them to follow the suggested technique for giving speeches to win votes? For about 10 minutes, I had to go back and look at A/C and the stimulus to figure out what I was missing. And then it hit me.....C doesn't mention anything about the speeches, and in fact, appears to strengthen the argument because if people tend to vote for a candidate on the basis of their character, then using a technique that makes the candidate come across as fair-minded and trustworthy to the voter would be helpful. Once again, I botched another stimulus. I keep thinking to myself, how in the world I'm going to recognize this in a 35-minute timed section?

The other issue is answer choices with wording like Q17. I got (B) by process of elimination, but these "play the following roles"
Q's with confusing wording are proving difficult for me to grasp. For example, how do I interpret "General Claim?" I've seen this answer choice wording come up several times and don't understand the prephase. Is it Winifred's conclusion about "most animals" having several ways of performing critical tasks, citing how "specifically" bees can navigate as evidence?

Anyway, thanks for the assistance. I'm so frustrated right now because while I think I'm getting it, I don't think I'm getting it.

For your first question. You just have to be careful with the stimulus. If you're reading too quickly then there's your first problem. Make sure you slow down, read and retain what information the stimulus is giving you. Also, diagram anything if need be. You're also thinking about the question for two long which overlaps ideas in your mind and confuses you further. Just as you said, you chose an answer which strengthens the argument rather than weakens. The question here, plainly stated, says which of the following weakens the above claim.

What I've found to help me is when I'm stuck between two answers I read the question again. ESPECIALLY, for weaken/strengthen questions. You're probably so used to looking for something that is true or is a necessity in the answer choices you feel as if C is correct, when given the question is entirely wrong. So slow down and read the question stem again. I generally read the question first, then I read the stimulus. This goes against what the PS LRB says but it helps be better retain the stimulus.

As for your second question, the general claim in this case is "...scent trails are a supplementary not exclusive means...". The answer B is correct because the other part of the passage, mentioned in the question, is direct evidence to that general claim (otherwise a conclusion). Sometimes the answers are really tricky and you'd have to nitpick through each to get to the correct answer choice. I mean there are some answer choices that are blatantly wrong for 17 but I was stuck between C and B when I just did it and I reread a certain part of the passage and realized it's direct support for Winifred's conclusion.