Logic Breakdown

Passage Summary: A doctor claims a certain condition isn't real just because she hasn't personally treated anyone who has it.

Conclusion: Multiple personality disorder does not exist as a real condition.

Reasoning: A specific psychiatrist has never seen a single case of multiple personality disorder throughout her entire career in clinical practice.

Analysis: The reasoning here is a classic example of the 'absence of evidence' flaw. The psychiatrist is assuming that because she personally hasn't observed something, it simply does not exist. It’s a bit like saying because I’ve never seen a giant squid in person, they must be a myth. To parallel this, look for an answer choice where a speaker draws a definitive, universal conclusion based solely on their own limited, negative experience.

Passage Stimulus

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8.

Which one of the following most closely parallels the questionable reasoning cited above?

Correct Answer
E
It matches the form: Jerod hasn’t spotted a deer in his area; therefore, he concludes there are no deer in the area. That parallels concluding nonexistence from one person’s lack of observation.
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