Parallel ReasoningDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Because a neutral expert says the tracks are fine, we should doubt a journalist who says they are broken.
Conclusion: We should be skeptical of the reporter's claim that the train tracks are in bad shape.
Reasoning: An unbiased railway inspector recently performed a thorough check and testified that the tracks are actually in good condition.
Analysis: The structure of this argument relies on the testimony of a neutral, qualified authority to discredit a conflicting claim from a different source. To parallel this, look for an argument that follows the pattern: 'Source A says X, Source A is reliable/unbiased, therefore Source B's claim of Not-X is probably wrong.' The logic hinges on the idea that an expert's lack of bias makes their observation more credible than a competing report. Focus on the transition from an expert's 'good' report to the dismissal of a 'bad' report.
Conclusion: We should be skeptical of the reporter's claim that the train tracks are in bad shape.
Reasoning: An unbiased railway inspector recently performed a thorough check and testified that the tracks are actually in good condition.
Analysis: The structure of this argument relies on the testimony of a neutral, qualified authority to discredit a conflicting claim from a different source. To parallel this, look for an argument that follows the pattern: 'Source A says X, Source A is reliable/unbiased, therefore Source B's claim of Not-X is probably wrong.' The logic hinges on the idea that an expert's lack of bias makes their observation more credible than a competing report. Focus on the transition from an expert's 'good' report to the dismissal of a 'bad' report.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage5.The reasoning in the argument above is most similar to the reasoning in which one of the following arguments?
Correct Answer
B
B mirrors the structure: an unbiased, qualified examiner (Gardner) closely inspected the evidence and concludes the bones aren’t dinosaur bones; therefore we should be skeptical of someone else’s contrary claim (Penwick’s). It’s the same credibility-based move against a competing claim.
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