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- Thu Jul 14, 2016 6:32 pm
#27206
Complete Question Explanation
Parallel Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (C)
Many physicists have devoted their entire careers to the search for a Grand Unifying Theory (GUT) or Theory Of Everything (TOE). Some even hope to find a single formula that would explain everything from molecular bonding to black holes. Of course, other scientists believe that no such theory or formula exists.
This stimulus suggests that past results are a reliable indicator of future events. Since every theory in the past has been rejected as incomplete, then any current physical theory, including quantum mechanics, will eventually be rejected as well. The correct answer choice must draw a similar conclusion on the basis of similar reasoning. It will demonstrate that some anticipated future result will not occur because it has never occurred in the past.
Answer choice (A): This argument concludes that the conditions which affect one group may have a similar effect on another group. A more parallel argument would be: Since only a few species of animals have ever lived in very dry climates, many species of animals do not live in those climates now.
Answer choice (B): This is actually an Opposite argument. According to this argument, the fifth company will not be able to market a product because several other companies have already done so. The stimulus argues that quantum mechanics will not be able to explain every phenomenon because no other theory has ever done so.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. Just as quantum mechanics will not be the final theory because every previous theory has not been final, your sister will not win this chess tournament because she has not won every previous chess tournament. Both this answer and the stimulus overlook the fact that the first time anything occurs, it is always different from every previous occurrence.
Answer choice (D): Rather than inferring that something will not happen because it has never happened before, this answer infers that something will not happen because it has happened once before.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice is incorrect because it is based on the mistaken assumption that what is true about each member of a group must also be true of the group as a whole. The argument would be more parallel if it said: Every previous team has failed to live up to people’s expectations; therefore, this team will not live to people’s expectations.
Parallel Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (C)
Many physicists have devoted their entire careers to the search for a Grand Unifying Theory (GUT) or Theory Of Everything (TOE). Some even hope to find a single formula that would explain everything from molecular bonding to black holes. Of course, other scientists believe that no such theory or formula exists.
This stimulus suggests that past results are a reliable indicator of future events. Since every theory in the past has been rejected as incomplete, then any current physical theory, including quantum mechanics, will eventually be rejected as well. The correct answer choice must draw a similar conclusion on the basis of similar reasoning. It will demonstrate that some anticipated future result will not occur because it has never occurred in the past.
Answer choice (A): This argument concludes that the conditions which affect one group may have a similar effect on another group. A more parallel argument would be: Since only a few species of animals have ever lived in very dry climates, many species of animals do not live in those climates now.
Answer choice (B): This is actually an Opposite argument. According to this argument, the fifth company will not be able to market a product because several other companies have already done so. The stimulus argues that quantum mechanics will not be able to explain every phenomenon because no other theory has ever done so.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. Just as quantum mechanics will not be the final theory because every previous theory has not been final, your sister will not win this chess tournament because she has not won every previous chess tournament. Both this answer and the stimulus overlook the fact that the first time anything occurs, it is always different from every previous occurrence.
Answer choice (D): Rather than inferring that something will not happen because it has never happened before, this answer infers that something will not happen because it has happened once before.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice is incorrect because it is based on the mistaken assumption that what is true about each member of a group must also be true of the group as a whole. The argument would be more parallel if it said: Every previous team has failed to live up to people’s expectations; therefore, this team will not live to people’s expectations.
