- Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:00 am
#23223
Complete Question Explanation
Parallel Reasoning-SN. The correct answer choice is (D)
The argument in the stimulus can be summarized as follows:
Use the conclusion test to eliminate answer choices (B) and (E), and the premise test to eliminate (A). The real contenders should only be answer choices (C) and (D).
Answer choice (A): The premise test can be used to quickly eliminate this answer choice. We need a premise of the type "All A's are B" (all tanzanite stones are in Tanzania), not "Many A's are B" (the lagoon on Scrag Island is home to many frogs). This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): The conclusion test eliminates this answer choice. Ashley is unlikely to ever collect a stone not originally from Tanzania. Here, the owls may never ear an animal that lives outside the lagoon. Furthermore, answer choice (B) does not suggest that the owls on the island eat only Scrag Island frogs. Rather, it is that the frogs on the island are eaten only by Scrag Island owls. It is perfectly possible that the owls may eat other animals as well. The conclusion in answer choice (B) is similar to a Mistaken Reversal of the one needed.
Answer choice (C): At first glance, this is an attractive answer choice, since the second premise and the conclusion match the stimulus precisely:
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice:
Answer choice (E): The conclusion test can be used to quickly eliminate this answer choice, since the certainty of "no owl will eat anything that lives outside the lagoon" does not parallel the probability that Ashley is unlikely to collect a stone not originally from Tanzania. This answer choice is incorrect.
Parallel Reasoning-SN. The correct answer choice is (D)
The argument in the stimulus can be summarized as follows:
- Premise: Tanzanite stones Tanzania
Premise: Ashley collection Tanzanite stones
Conclusion: Ashley collection Tanzania
Use the conclusion test to eliminate answer choices (B) and (E), and the premise test to eliminate (A). The real contenders should only be answer choices (C) and (D).
Answer choice (A): The premise test can be used to quickly eliminate this answer choice. We need a premise of the type "All A's are B" (all tanzanite stones are in Tanzania), not "Many A's are B" (the lagoon on Scrag Island is home to many frogs). This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): The conclusion test eliminates this answer choice. Ashley is unlikely to ever collect a stone not originally from Tanzania. Here, the owls may never ear an animal that lives outside the lagoon. Furthermore, answer choice (B) does not suggest that the owls on the island eat only Scrag Island frogs. Rather, it is that the frogs on the island are eaten only by Scrag Island owls. It is perfectly possible that the owls may eat other animals as well. The conclusion in answer choice (B) is similar to a Mistaken Reversal of the one needed.
Answer choice (C): At first glance, this is an attractive answer choice, since the second premise and the conclusion match the stimulus precisely:
- Premise (2): Owl diet Island frogs (owls eat only island frogs)
Conclusion: Owl diet Lagoon (owls eat only lagoon animals)
- Island frogs Lagoon (i.e. that all island frogs live in the lagoon)
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice:
- Premise (1): Island frogs Lagoon (the only frogs live in the lagoon)
Premise (2): Owl diet Island frogs (owls eat only island frogs)
Conclusion: Owl diet Lagoon (they eat only lagoon animals)
Answer choice (E): The conclusion test can be used to quickly eliminate this answer choice, since the certainty of "no owl will eat anything that lives outside the lagoon" does not parallel the probability that Ashley is unlikely to collect a stone not originally from Tanzania. This answer choice is incorrect.