Flawed Parallel ReasoningDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: The entire group of students at a school studies many different subjects. Since Miriam is one of those students, the author assumes she must personally study many different subjects.
Conclusion: Miriam takes courses in a wide range of disciplines.
Reasoning: Miriam is a member of the university's student body, and the student body as a whole takes courses in a wide range of disciplines.
Analysis: This is a textbook example of the 'Fallacy of Division.' The author assumes that what is true of a group as a whole must be true of every individual member. While the student body *collectively* covers many subjects, Miriam herself might only be taking chemistry classes. To find a parallel flaw, look for an answer that takes a characteristic of a 'total' or 'average' and incorrectly applies it to a specific part or person within that group.
Conclusion: Miriam takes courses in a wide range of disciplines.
Reasoning: Miriam is a member of the university's student body, and the student body as a whole takes courses in a wide range of disciplines.
Analysis: This is a textbook example of the 'Fallacy of Division.' The author assumes that what is true of a group as a whole must be true of every individual member. While the student body *collectively* covers many subjects, Miriam herself might only be taking chemistry classes. To find a parallel flaw, look for an answer that takes a characteristic of a 'total' or 'average' and incorrectly applies it to a specific part or person within that group.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage6.Which one of the following arguments exhibits flawed reasoning most similar to that exhibited by the argument above?
Correct Answer
B
B mirrors the division error: from “the editorial board has written on many legal issues” (a collective achievement likely distributed among members) to “Louise has written on many legal issues.”
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