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- Fri Dec 20, 2019 10:42 am
#72656
Complete Question Explanation
Parallel Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (A).
This is a parallel reasoning question, and the best procedure will be to create (as time-efficiently but comprehensively as possible) an abstract description of the reasoning in the stimulus.
The conclusion states that it is pointless to spend much time trying to match an old paint precisely when painting only part of the interior of a house. A reasonably good abstract description is "it is pointless to do much to achieve a certain kind of perfection."
The premises for that conclusion ("this is because" and "thus," which is an intermediate conclusion) tell us that paint fades over time, and the match you initially achieve will disappear because of the fading of the paint after a year or so, which according to the first phrase of the stimulus is something noticeable. A reasonably good abstract description is "noticeable changes occur over time that will negate the effort you put into the work in the first place."
Putting those two descriptive elements together, we are looking for an answer choice that concludes it is pointless to do much to achieve perfection, because noticeable changes that occur over time will negate the effort put into achieving that perfection."
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. The conclusion of answer choice A has just the abstract elements we are looking for, when it says "it is useless" (i.e. pointless) to "put very much effort into" (i.e. to do much) to "perfectly" align a new wheel (i.e. to achieve perfection). The premise of answer choice A also matches our abstract description of the premise. The change that occurs over time is that the position of the bike wheel shifts when the bike is ridden, which negates the effort put into achieving the perfect alignment. This change is noticeable because the first part of the answer states that the bike is "most comfortable" when the wheels are perfectly aligned. With such a comprehensive match for the reasoning in the stimulus, we can feel comfortable choosing answer choice A.
Answer choice (B): Answer choice B can be rejected because the conclusion is not a match for the conclusion in the stimulus. The conclusion in answer choice B uses a certainty qualifier (the term "rarely"), which gives the conclusion less logical force than the conclusion in the stimulus, which was absolute ("it is pointless"). The broader abstract elements of the argument in the stimulus are also missing from answer choice B.
Answer choice (C): The argument in answer choice C relies on two premises that introduce multiple considerations that go into keeping the hair healthy. The conclusion asserts that both those considerations should be taken into account when choosing and using shampoos. This differs from the abstract reasoning in the stimulus, which relied on the negating effect of changes that occur over time as a reason to assert the pointlessness of taking a certain action.
Answer choice (D): The conclusion in answer choice D ("it is pointless") is in a very basic sense a match for the conclusion of the stimulus. However, the premise of answer choice D is that an alternate way of doing something is "almost as good," which supports the assertion of pointlessness. In the stimulus the premises did not compare two ways of doing something and assert that the less-effective way was almost as good. Thus, answer choice D is not a match.
Answer choice (E): This conclusion in answer choice E ("it is not worthwhile to spend much time") is a very good match for the conclusion of the stimulus. However, the premises miss the mark in two respects. First, the stimulus argued that a certain thing that might warrant striving for perfection (the noticeability of mismatched paints) was present. In answer choice E, the argument asserts that the noticeability of the imperfection is absent ("most people would not notice"). In addition, while the argument in the stimulus relies heavily on premises about changes that occur over time that negate the effect of all the initial effort, in answer choice E's argument there is no reference to any changes taking place in the dress's lining over time. Thus, answer choice E is not a match.
Parallel Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (A).
This is a parallel reasoning question, and the best procedure will be to create (as time-efficiently but comprehensively as possible) an abstract description of the reasoning in the stimulus.
The conclusion states that it is pointless to spend much time trying to match an old paint precisely when painting only part of the interior of a house. A reasonably good abstract description is "it is pointless to do much to achieve a certain kind of perfection."
The premises for that conclusion ("this is because" and "thus," which is an intermediate conclusion) tell us that paint fades over time, and the match you initially achieve will disappear because of the fading of the paint after a year or so, which according to the first phrase of the stimulus is something noticeable. A reasonably good abstract description is "noticeable changes occur over time that will negate the effort you put into the work in the first place."
Putting those two descriptive elements together, we are looking for an answer choice that concludes it is pointless to do much to achieve perfection, because noticeable changes that occur over time will negate the effort put into achieving that perfection."
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. The conclusion of answer choice A has just the abstract elements we are looking for, when it says "it is useless" (i.e. pointless) to "put very much effort into" (i.e. to do much) to "perfectly" align a new wheel (i.e. to achieve perfection). The premise of answer choice A also matches our abstract description of the premise. The change that occurs over time is that the position of the bike wheel shifts when the bike is ridden, which negates the effort put into achieving the perfect alignment. This change is noticeable because the first part of the answer states that the bike is "most comfortable" when the wheels are perfectly aligned. With such a comprehensive match for the reasoning in the stimulus, we can feel comfortable choosing answer choice A.
Answer choice (B): Answer choice B can be rejected because the conclusion is not a match for the conclusion in the stimulus. The conclusion in answer choice B uses a certainty qualifier (the term "rarely"), which gives the conclusion less logical force than the conclusion in the stimulus, which was absolute ("it is pointless"). The broader abstract elements of the argument in the stimulus are also missing from answer choice B.
Answer choice (C): The argument in answer choice C relies on two premises that introduce multiple considerations that go into keeping the hair healthy. The conclusion asserts that both those considerations should be taken into account when choosing and using shampoos. This differs from the abstract reasoning in the stimulus, which relied on the negating effect of changes that occur over time as a reason to assert the pointlessness of taking a certain action.
Answer choice (D): The conclusion in answer choice D ("it is pointless") is in a very basic sense a match for the conclusion of the stimulus. However, the premise of answer choice D is that an alternate way of doing something is "almost as good," which supports the assertion of pointlessness. In the stimulus the premises did not compare two ways of doing something and assert that the less-effective way was almost as good. Thus, answer choice D is not a match.
Answer choice (E): This conclusion in answer choice E ("it is not worthwhile to spend much time") is a very good match for the conclusion of the stimulus. However, the premises miss the mark in two respects. First, the stimulus argued that a certain thing that might warrant striving for perfection (the noticeability of mismatched paints) was present. In answer choice E, the argument asserts that the noticeability of the imperfection is absent ("most people would not notice"). In addition, while the argument in the stimulus relies heavily on premises about changes that occur over time that negate the effect of all the initial effort, in answer choice E's argument there is no reference to any changes taking place in the dress's lining over time. Thus, answer choice E is not a match.