PrepTest 127 · Section 1 · Question 13

The Battle of the Bats

Owen coaches the second-grade softball team on Saturdays. Marcus waves a magazine at him. "A big test says wooden bats are better than plastic bats overall. Better sound, better hits, better everything." Owen nods. "Sure. But plastic bats are way lighter. Some of my players are tiny. After two swings with a wooden bat, their arms turn to noodles." He points at Lulu, who is trying to lift a wooden bat and slowly tipping over. "So for some players, plastic bats are better." Priya frowns thoughtfully. "That only works if being light matters more to those kids than all the stuff wooden bats are good at. If the wooden bat's big hits still win, then light doesn't save plastic." Owen shrugs. "For Lulu? Light wins. Look at her." Lulu, now flat on the grass, gives a thumbs-up.

A study found that wooden bats are better overall than plastic bats. But plastic bats are much lighter, which helps young players whose arms tire quickly; some of them find wooden bats very hard to swing. So for some players, plastic bats are better.

Owen's argument needs which one of the following to be true?

The Case of the Better Bicycle

"Your Honor," says a lawyer named Ms. Tan, "the consumer guide ranks racing bikes above cargo bikes overall. Faster, lighter, smoother." Mr. Whitfield stands. "True. But cargo bikes have a big front basket. For parents who haul groceries and a toddler, that basket is a lifesaver. So for some riders, cargo bikes are better." The judge peers over her glasses. "Mr. Whitfield, your point only holds if, for those parents, the basket matters more than all that speed." "Precisely, Your Honor. Ask any parent with a toddler and a melting carton of ice cream. The basket wins." The judge nods. "Then your case stands on that unstated weighing."