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Difficulty: EasyParallel Conditional Logic

If the city council approves the new zoning laws, the construction of the shopping mall will begin. If the construction of the shopping mall begins, the local traffic will increase significantly. Therefore, if the city council approves the new zoning laws, the local traffic will increase significantly.

Which one of the following arguments exhibits a pattern of reasoning most similar to that exhibited by the argument above?

  1. If the chef uses fresh herbs, the dish will be flavorful. If the dish is flavorful, the customers will be satisfied. Therefore, if the chef uses fresh herbs, the customers will be satisfied.Answer
  2. B
    If a student studies daily, their grades will improve. If their grades improve, they will receive a scholarship. Therefore, if a student receives a scholarship, they study daily.
  3. C
    If a company invests in technology, its efficiency increases. If its efficiency increases, its profits rise. Therefore, if a company does not invest in technology, its profits will not rise.
  4. D
    If all employees attend the workshop, productivity will increase. If productivity increases, most departments will meet their goals. Therefore, if some employees attend the workshop, most departments will meet their goals.
  5. E
    If a painting is a masterpiece, it is highly valuable. A painting is displayed in the main gallery only if it is highly valuable. Therefore, if a painting is a masterpiece, it is displayed in the main gallery.

Answer

The argument about the chef using fresh herbs to satisfy customers.
The correct answer exactly mirrors the valid conditional chain presented in the stimulus. It sets up two conditional premises where the necessary condition of the first becomes the sufficient condition of the second (If A then B; If B then C), and validly concludes that the first sufficient condition guarantees the final necessary condition (If A then C).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the logical structure of the stimulus.
The stimulus follows the valid transitive property: Premise 1 (If A -> B), Premise 2 (If B -> C), Conclusion (Therefore, if A -> C).
Identifying the formal structure of the original argument is required to find its exact structural match.
2
Evaluate the structure of the answer choices to find an identical match.
The correct answer has the exact same structure: Premise 1 (If Herbs -> Flavor), Premise 2 (If Flavor -> Satisfaction), Conclusion (Therefore, if Herbs -> Satisfaction).
A parallel reasoning question requires finding the option with the same exact logical validity and premise-conclusion relationship.

Key Concept

Parallel Conditional Logic
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Topics

Parallel Conditional Logic

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