Parallel Flaw

[akalsi]

Hi,

In terms of tackling questions with Parallel Flaw, I know the best way is to find an answer choice that parallels the flawed reasoning presented in the stimulus. However, do all the rules to parallel a question in general still apply (conclusion, premises, etc)?
These questions tend to take up the most time for me, and I was wondering what the best strategy is? Is it possible to eliminate answers based on their degree of language as well (ex. always, never, some, all, must, etc?) if it doesn't parallel the stimulus?

Thanks in advance

- Anoop

[Jon Denning]

Hey Anoop,

Thanks for the question! Fortunately it's a pretty straightforward one: Parallel Flaw questions work EXACTLY like regular Parallel questions--you can still eliminate answers with different strengths of language, or different types of premises or conclusions, or that use different forms of reasoning--with the only addition being that you also have the flaw itself to consider.

So use the same Elemental Attack we teach for regular Parallel, but also identify any specific mistakes/flaws you see and trust that the correct answer must contain that/those as well. Being extremely picky about what you allow in the answer choices should help you move more quickly as you aggressively eliminate choices at the first sign of a discrepancy.

Thanks!

[akalsi]

So just to be sure I understand this correctly, with parallel flaw questions I can use the Elemental Attack. Would it be reasonable to say that I can eliminate any answer choices automatically that do not contain the same degree of language? For example, if the stimulus has the degree of language that's not absolute but deals with probability or likelihood, could i scan through the answer choices and eliminate all those that do not have a similar degree of language? Or should I focus more on the flaw at hand, and then the degree of language? Or, does it not really matter in what order I do this in?

Thanks in advance,

- Anoop

[Jon Denning]

Yep! The same approach you'd use for regular Parallel applies to Parallel-Flaw! The only difference is that Parallel-Flaw stimuli have mistaken reasoning and the same mistake must be present in the answer, whereas regular Parallel have reasoning that's considered valid and the correct answer choice would have the same valid reasoning. So focus on whatever element(s) is/are easiest to identify and search for!

Hope that helps!