Flawed Parallel ReasoningDiff: Hard
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Every candidate is a business owner. Since most business owners are good managers, and good managers make good mayors, the author concludes most of these candidates will be good mayors.
Conclusion: The majority of candidates in the current mayoral race likely possess the skills required to be an effective mayor.
Reasoning: All candidates are small-business owners, most small-business owners are competent managers, and all competent managers have the necessary skills for the job.
Analysis: This argument falls into a classic 'sampling' trap. Just because a trait is common in a large group (small-business owners), we cannot assume that same trait is common in a tiny, specific slice of that group (the candidates). It is entirely possible that the only business owners running for office are the incompetent ones who couldn't cut it in the private sector! When looking for a parallel, find an answer that takes a 'most' property of a general category and incorrectly applies it to a specific subset.
Conclusion: The majority of candidates in the current mayoral race likely possess the skills required to be an effective mayor.
Reasoning: All candidates are small-business owners, most small-business owners are competent managers, and all competent managers have the necessary skills for the job.
Analysis: This argument falls into a classic 'sampling' trap. Just because a trait is common in a large group (small-business owners), we cannot assume that same trait is common in a tiny, specific slice of that group (the candidates). It is entirely possible that the only business owners running for office are the incompetent ones who couldn't cut it in the private sector! When looking for a parallel, find an answer that takes a 'most' property of a general category and incorrectly applies it to a specific subset.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage21.The pattern of flawed reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to that in the argument above?
Correct Answer
B
Choice B mirrors the structure: All menu items are fat-free; most fat-free items are sugar-free; all sugar-free items are low-cal; therefore most menu items are low-cal. This incorrectly transfers a ‘most’ fact about the larger category (fat-free) to a particular subset (Maddy’s menu), just like the stimulus.
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