Nick: The best way to write a good detective story is to work backward

Question

Nick: The best way to write a good detective story is to work backward from the crime. The writer should first decide what the crime is and who the perpetrator is and then come up with the circumstances and clues based on those decisions.

Which one of the following illustrates a principle most similar to that illustrated by the passage?

(A) When planning a trip, some people first decide where they want to go and then plan accordingly, but for most of us, much financial planning must be done before we can choose where we are going.

(B) In planting a vegetable garden, you should prepare the soil first and then decide what kinds of vegetables to plant.

(C) Good architects do not extemporaneously construct their plans in the course of an afternoon; an architectural design cannot be divorced from the method of constructing the building.

(D) In solving mathematical problems, the best method is to try out as many strategies as possible in the time allotted. This is particularly effective if the number of possible strategies is fairly small.

(E) To make a great tennis shot you should visualize where you want the shot to go and then determine the position you need to be in to execute the shot properly.

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Sketchitesh · Answer

Argument summary: First define End Result/Outcome/ Goal --> then How do you arrive at that. (Plan/Stepping stones/ Action items)

A. Where they want to go (Goal) then plan accordingly (Sounds Good) But  most of us, much financial planning must be done before (Plan) we can choose where we are going (Goal) .. Umm contradicting.. Lets keep it for sake of ambiguity.

B. Prepare the soil first (Plan) then decide (Goal). Opposite,  Reject   
 C. "A good architect ... an architectural design cannot be divorced from the method of constructing..  Irrelevant. 
D. " the best method is to try out as many strategies" .. Action/Plan. No Information on solution/Result known.  Reject 
E. visualize where you want the shot to go -- Goal .. then determine the position you need to be in --- Action/Plan .

E over A for sure.

"E should be correct"

bhargavhhhhhhhh · Answer

Nick's argument: 
To write a good detective story, start with the end (crime + perpetrator), then work backward to build the clues and events. 
→ Principle: Start with the final outcome, then plan backward to build the elements that lead to it.

Now evaluate the choices:

(A) First choose destination, then plan the rest — but it says *most people do the opposite* → Not aligned with principle 
(B) First prepare soil, then decide what to plant → Forward planning, not backward from outcome → Not aligned 
(C) Emphasizes careful planning but not backward design → Not a good match 
(D) Try strategies randomly within time → Trial-and-error approach, not backward design → Not aligned 
(E) Visualize where you want the shot to go, then decide positioning to achieve it → Start with outcome, then plan backward → **Same principle**

Correct answer: (E)

Abhiswarup · Answer

principle followed:
Crime Story--------->Crime & Perpetrator------->decide clues & circumstances

Evaluating options:
(A) When planning a trip, some people first decide where they want to go and then plan accordingly, but for most of us, much financial planning must be done before we can choose where we are going. 
Trip----->decide destination---->plan however it says financial planning is done before by many. Thus principle is not followed. Eliminate
(B) In planting a vegetable garden, you should prepare the soil first and then decide what kinds of vegetables to plant.
Vegetable Garden---->prepare Soil first------>Vegetables it is opposite of the principle rather vegetables should be decided first and then soil should be prepared. Eliminate.
(C) Good architects do not extemporaneously construct their plans in the course of an afternoon; an architectural design cannot be divorced from the method of constructing the building.
completely different from principle. Eliminate.
(D) In solving mathematical problems, the best method is to try out as many strategies as possible in the time allotted. This is particularly effective if the number of possible strategies is fairly small.
The statement is not aligned with principle mentioned. Eliminate
(E) To make a great tennis shot you should visualize where you want the shot to go and then determine the position you need to be in to execute the shot properly.
Tennis Shot------>visualize where should shot go------->position you should be in to execute shot
Follows same principle as passage. Correct answer is E.

Dereno · Answer

Nick's principle suggests starting with the desired outcome (knowing the crime and perpetrator) and then figuring out the steps to get there (circumstances and clues).

With this framework in mind let’s look into the options individually.

(A) When planning a trip, some people first decide where they want to go and then plan accordingly, but for most of us, much financial planning must be done before we can choose where we are going.

Even though the initial statements seems to be in line with the question stem. The contradiction arises when Financial planning restricts the options to choose from. So not correct.

(B) In planting a vegetable garden, you should prepare the soil first and then decide what kinds of vegetables to plant.

it should be the other way round. Only when u have decided the vegetables you’re going to plant, then can we prepare the soil accordingly. So eliminated .

(C) Good architects do not extemporaneously construct their plans in the course of an afternoon; an architectural design cannot be divorced from the method of constructing the building.

Vague and not in line. Eliminated.

(D) In solving mathematical problems, the best method is to try out as many strategies as possible in the time allotted. This is particularly effective if the number of possible strategies is fairly small.

Using all the resources available before deciding a course of action. Incorrect.

(E) To make a great tennis shot you should visualize where you want the shot to go and then determine the position you need to be in to execute the shot properly.

This is correct, it says fixate the position where the ball has to land, to make it happen, you trace back the possible positions and fix the best advantageous positions to execute the shot.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Solution: E

As evidenced by the phrase, “illustrates a principle most similar,” this is a “Mimic the Reasoning” question, a subtype of the Method of Reasoning category. The question stem also indicates that we are not trying to mimic an entire argument, but simply trying to mimic a “principle.” Thus, we do not need to isolate or categorize individual premises or conclusions; we only need to find the underlying principle in the original prompt and then find the answer that illustrates that same principle. As we do so, remember that Method questions are best answered when we step backwards and divorce ourselves from the subject matter, looking instead for the “big picture.” The original question prompt indicates that a good detective story writer works backward from the crime. Thus we are looking for an answer that proposes a strategy where the subject first determines the end, then the plans the means to that end. Diagramming the logic is completely unnecessary here.

Answer choice “A” seems to begin mimicking the principle of working backward, but it then detours midway through the sentence and recommends the opposite position. The Testmaker here is hoping that we failed to read the entire statement and only looked for confirming evidence.

Answer choice “B” clearly does not work backward from the end product. Instead, it recommends undertaking initial preparations prior to deciding what to plant. “B” suggests the exact opposite of the principle we are looking for.

Answer choice “C” is a trap answer written by the Testmaker to see if we identified the right principle in the first place. “C” suggests that, during the design process, architects must take into consideration how a building should be constructed. However, this does not focus on the end result, and then determine the means to that end. Instead, it focuses on an intermediate step – construction – when planning out the process. The “end product” of a designed building is the purpose or use of a building; constructing the building is actually another part in the process to achieve that end result. With this answer, the Testmaker is hoping that we missed this crucial distinction. This would certainly happen if we thought that the initial principle to be mimicked was something like, “think about stuff before you do it.” Make sure that when you formulate the “big picture” in a Method question that you are specific. Divorcing ourselves from the subject matter is crucial, but we must be careful of making generalized, vague statements that could apply to multiple different answers.

Answer choice “D” certainly does not propose “working backward.” Instead, it recommends a sort of “spaghetti on the wall” approach – just throw whatever you have at it and see what sticks. “D” cannot be right answer.

Answer choice “E” mimics the principle of working backward perfectly. It recommends that tennis players focus on the eventual destination of the shot, and then determine where they need to be to make that shot happen. Answer choice “E” is correct.

Nick: The best way to write a good detective story is to work backward

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Nick: The best way to write a good detective story is to work backward

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