Parallel ReasoningDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Even though a nuclear accident is very unlikely, the damage would be so catastrophic that it's still not worth building the plants.
Conclusion: Building nuclear power plants is a bad idea despite the very low probability of a meltdown.
Reasoning: The potential results of a nuclear meltdown are so devastating that the risk is not worth taking, regardless of how unlikely the event is.
Analysis: The structure of this argument is based on a risk-benefit analysis where the 'risk' side is dominated by the severity of the outcome rather than its probability. The logic follows this pattern: 'Action X is safe in terms of probability, but because the worst-case scenario is uniquely terrible, Action X should be avoided.' When looking for a parallel, ignore the topic of 'nuclear' or 'technology' and focus on this specific decision-making framework. You want an answer where a low-probability but high-impact negative consequence dictates that a certain path should not be taken.
Conclusion: Building nuclear power plants is a bad idea despite the very low probability of a meltdown.
Reasoning: The potential results of a nuclear meltdown are so devastating that the risk is not worth taking, regardless of how unlikely the event is.
Analysis: The structure of this argument is based on a risk-benefit analysis where the 'risk' side is dominated by the severity of the outcome rather than its probability. The logic follows this pattern: 'Action X is safe in terms of probability, but because the worst-case scenario is uniquely terrible, Action X should be avoided.' When looking for a parallel, ignore the topic of 'nuclear' or 'technology' and focus on this specific decision-making framework. You want an answer where a low-probability but high-impact negative consequence dictates that a certain path should not be taken.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage13.The pattern of reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to that in the argument above?
Correct Answer
D
D mirrors the structure: low risk acknowledged, yet the action is called reckless specifically because the potential injuries are so extreme—matching the ‘small probability, catastrophic consequence, don’t do it’ reasoning.
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