Flawed Parallel ReasoningDiff: Hardest
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Linda says scientists don't like poetry. Because most scientists are logical people, she thinks that means people who do like poetry aren't logical.
Conclusion: At least some individuals who enjoy poetry are not logical.
Reasoning: Linda claims no scientists appreciate poetry, and since most scientists are logical, she concludes that poetry lovers must be illogical.
Analysis: The flaw here is a failure to account for other groups; Linda assumes that because one logical group (scientists) avoids poetry, then poetry lovers must lack logic entirely. This ignores the possibility of logical non-scientists who might love a good sonnet. To parallel this, look for an argument that takes a trait of one group, notes that group avoids a certain activity, and concludes that anyone doing that activity must lack that trait. The abstract structure is: No A is B; Most A are C; therefore, some B are not C.
Conclusion: At least some individuals who enjoy poetry are not logical.
Reasoning: Linda claims no scientists appreciate poetry, and since most scientists are logical, she concludes that poetry lovers must be illogical.
Analysis: The flaw here is a failure to account for other groups; Linda assumes that because one logical group (scientists) avoids poetry, then poetry lovers must lack logic entirely. This ignores the possibility of logical non-scientists who might love a good sonnet. To parallel this, look for an argument that takes a trait of one group, notes that group avoids a certain activity, and concludes that anyone doing that activity must lack that trait. The abstract structure is: No A is B; Most A are C; therefore, some B are not C.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage23.Which one of the following is most parallel in its reasoning to the flawed reasoning above?
Correct Answer
B
B matches the flawed form exactly: No fathers (A) want kids to eat candy at bedtime (B). Most fathers (A) are adults (C). Therefore, at least some who want kids to eat candy at bedtime (some B) are children (not C). That is the same erroneous leap from excluding A from B plus Most A are C to Some B are not C.
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