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Difficulty: MediumParallel Quantifier Logic

Some of the bronze artifacts excavated at the ancient city of Oakhaven contain trace amounts of zinc. Furthermore, every bronze artifact containing trace amounts of zinc is highly susceptible to rapid oxidation when exposed to humid air. Therefore, some of the bronze artifacts excavated at Oakhaven are highly susceptible to rapid oxidation when exposed to humid air.

Which of the following arguments exhibit a pattern of reasoning logically parallel to that in the argument above? Select all that apply.

  1. Some of the corporate bonds issued by Vertex Inc. have been downgraded to junk status. Any corporate bond downgraded to junk status carries a significant default risk. Thus, some of the corporate bonds issued by Vertex Inc. carry a significant default risk.Answer
  2. Every tropical cyclone forming in the eastern basin experiences intense wind shear. Since some weather systems tracked by the national observatory are tropical cyclones forming in the eastern basin, it follows that some weather systems tracked by the national observatory experience intense wind shear.Answer
  3. C
    Most of the patients participating in the trial reported mild fatigue. All patients who reported mild fatigue were administered the standard dosage. Hence, most of the patients participating in the trial were administered the standard dosage.
  4. D
    Some of the newly planted saplings have wilted. All trees that lack sufficient water will wilt. Therefore, some of the newly planted saplings lack sufficient water.
  5. E
    All imported vehicles must pass a stringent emissions test. Some vehicles that pass a stringent emissions test are exempt from the standard luxury tax. Thus, all imported vehicles are exempt from the standard luxury tax.

Answer

The correct arguments are those discussing Vertex Inc. corporate bonds and tropical cyclones.
The stimulus presents a valid syllogism combining an existential quantifier ('some') with a universal quantifier ('every/all') to yield an existential conclusion: Some A are B; All B are C; Therefore, Some A are C. The correct answers both perfectly replicate this valid transitive chain. The corporate bond scenario uses the exact same order of premises, while the tropical cyclone scenario reverses the order of the premises but maintains the identical logical chain, which is completely acceptable in parallel reasoning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the logical structure of the stimulus.
Premise 1: Some A (bronze artifacts) are B (contain zinc). Premise 2: All B (contain zinc) are C (susceptible to oxidation). Conclusion: Some A (bronze artifacts) are C (susceptible to oxidation).
Identifying the formal logic and quantifier chain is necessary to find identical parallel structures.
2
Evaluate the validity of the stimulus argument.
The argument is a valid deduction. If a subgroup of A belongs entirely to B, and all of B belongs to C, then that subgroup of A must also belong to C.
A parallel argument must share the same validity status (valid or invalid) as the original.
3
Examine the answer choices for matching structure and validity.
The argument about corporate bonds follows 'Some A are B, All B are C -> Some A are C'. The argument about tropical cyclones follows 'All B are C, Some A are B -> Some A are C'. Both perfectly match the logical chaining and quantifier scope.
To be parallel, the options must chain a 'some' relationship through a universal 'all/any/every' condition to reach a valid 'some' conclusion.

Key Concept

Parallel Quantifier Logic requires matching not only the structural relationships between terms but also the precise strength of the quantifiers used (e.g., distinguishing 'some' from 'most' or 'all') and the overall validity of the deduction.
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Parallel Quantifier Logic

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