Flawed Parallel ReasoningDiff: Hard
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Some people get fat on high-fat diets because they lack certain nutrients, not because they eat too much. Because of this, the argument claims these people aren't overeating.
Conclusion: People eating these specific high-fat diets are not consuming an excessive amount of calories.
Reasoning: The weight gain seen in these diets is caused by a lack of specific nutrients for metabolism rather than by eating too many calories.
Analysis: This argument commits a classic 'exclusivity' error by assuming that because one factor isn't the cause of a problem, that factor must not be present at all. Just because excessive calories aren't the *reason* for the weight gain doesn't mean the people aren't *also* eating too many calories. It's like saying your car didn't stop because the brakes failed, so you must have plenty of gas. To match this flaw, look for an answer that dismisses the existence of a condition simply because it isn't the primary cause of an effect.
Conclusion: People eating these specific high-fat diets are not consuming an excessive amount of calories.
Reasoning: The weight gain seen in these diets is caused by a lack of specific nutrients for metabolism rather than by eating too many calories.
Analysis: This argument commits a classic 'exclusivity' error by assuming that because one factor isn't the cause of a problem, that factor must not be present at all. Just because excessive calories aren't the *reason* for the weight gain doesn't mean the people aren't *also* eating too many calories. It's like saying your car didn't stop because the brakes failed, so you must have plenty of gas. To match this flaw, look for an answer that dismisses the existence of a condition simply because it isn't the primary cause of an effect.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage26.The questionable pattern of reasoning in the argument above is most similar to that in which one of the following?
Correct Answer
C
It exactly parallels the flaw: It says pilots’ disorientation is caused not by sleep deprivation but by disrupted daylight exposure, and then concludes pilots do not suffer from sleep deprivation. That’s the same invalid move from “not the cause” to “not present.”
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