Flawed Parallel ReasoningDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: To get into the regional band, you need to be either a hard worker or naturally talented; since Lily is talented and made the band, the author concludes she must not be a hard worker.
Conclusion: Lily does not practice her instrument hard.
Reasoning: To be in the regional band, one must either practice hard or be very talented; Lily is in the band and is talented.
Analysis: This argument fails because it treats an 'either/or' condition as if the two options are mutually exclusive. In logic, 'A or B' usually means you need at least one, but you could certainly have both. The author incorrectly assumes that because Lily satisfies the 'talent' condition, she must not satisfy the 'hard work' condition. To parallel this, look for an answer that establishes two possible paths to a result, identifies someone who took one path, and concludes they definitely didn't take the other.
Conclusion: Lily does not practice her instrument hard.
Reasoning: To be in the regional band, one must either practice hard or be very talented; Lily is in the band and is talented.
Analysis: This argument fails because it treats an 'either/or' condition as if the two options are mutually exclusive. In logic, 'A or B' usually means you need at least one, but you could certainly have both. The author incorrectly assumes that because Lily satisfies the 'talent' condition, she must not satisfy the 'hard work' condition. To parallel this, look for an answer that establishes two possible paths to a result, identifies someone who took one path, and concludes they definitely didn't take the other.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage6.The flawed reasoning in which one of the following arguments most closely resembles the flawed reasoning in the argument above?
Correct Answer
D
D matches the flawed pattern: "To stay informed, one must read a major newspaper or watch national TV news." Julie is informed and reads a major newspaper, so the argument concludes she does not watch TV news. That incorrectly treats the necessary "or" as exclusive.
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