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Difficulty: Very hardFalse Dilemma (False Dichotomy)

University Administrator: The university is facing a severe budget deficit this year. We could eliminate this deficit by drastically increasing student tuition. However, our charter explicitly caps tuition increases at three percent annually, which is far below the increase that would be required to eliminate the deficit. It follows inescapably that we will be forced to significantly reduce the number of faculty members.

Which one of the following arguments contains a flawed pattern of reasoning most similar to the flawed pattern in the university administrator's argument?

  1. A
    The community center's roof is leaking and must be repaired. The only ways to repair the roof are to patch the damaged sections or to install a completely new roof. The structural damage is too extensive for patching to be effective. Therefore, we have no choice but to install a completely new roof.
  2. B
    We must reduce the overall energy consumption of the manufacturing plant. Operating the heavy machinery only during off-peak hours would drastically lower our energy costs. But the workers' union contract strictly prohibits mandatory off-peak shifts. Therefore, the plant will be forced to upgrade all its machinery to newer, more efficient models.
  3. The city needs to reduce its carbon emissions by 20 percent. Transitioning all municipal vehicles to electric power would achieve this target. But the city's current budget cannot accommodate the upfront costs of purchasing electric vehicles. Therefore, the city will have to impose strict limits on driving within the city limits.Answer
  4. D
    To substantially improve regional crop yields, the soil must be rich in nitrogen. Using synthetic chemical fertilizers would adequately enrich the soil with nitrogen. However, new environmental regulations completely ban the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers in this region. Therefore, farmers in the region will be unable to substantially improve their crop yields.
  5. E
    Patients who suffer from chronic migraines frequently have severe magnesium deficiencies. Taking magnesium supplements can reliably resolve these deficiencies. However, some patients are highly allergic to all standard magnesium supplements. Therefore, these allergic patients must rely exclusively on prescription pain medication to manage their migraines.

Answer

The argument concluding that the city will have to impose strict driving limits because it cannot afford electric vehicles.
The correct answer exactly parallels the flawed reasoning of the stimulus. In the original argument, a goal is stated (eliminating a deficit), one potential solution is identified (increasing tuition) but then ruled out due to constraints, leading to the conclusion that a second, specific solution (reducing faculty) must be taken. This is a False Dilemma because it implicitly assumes there are no other ways to reduce the deficit. The correct answer mirrors this perfectly: it presents a goal (reducing emissions), identifies a solution (electric vehicles) but rules it out, and leaps to the conclusion that a second specific solution (strict driving limits) is mandatory, ignoring other potential ways to reduce emissions.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the university administrator's argument to identify the premises and conclusion.
Premise 1: Drastic tuition increases could eliminate the deficit. Premise 2: Tuition increases are capped by the charter and cannot eliminate the deficit. Conclusion: The university must reduce the number of faculty.
Understanding the structural components of the argument is the necessary first step in Parallel Reasoning questions.
2
Identify the core logical flaw in the original argument.
The argument assumes that because one specific solution (raising tuition) is impossible, another specific solution (reducing faculty) is the only remaining option. It ignores other potential ways to eliminate a deficit (e.g., cutting administrative costs, raising alumni donations).
To accurately find a parallel flaw, the exact nature of the logical error—in this case, a False Dilemma—must be isolated.
3
Evaluate the answer choices to find an argument that exhibits the exact same False Dilemma structure.
The correct option must present a goal, offer one potential solution, rule out that solution due to a constraint, and conclude that a completely different, specific solution is the only option, without explicitly limiting the choices in the premises.
Parallel Flaw requires matching both the abstract logical structure and the specific type of reasoning error.

Key Concept

False Dilemma (False Dichotomy)
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Topics

False Dilemma (False Dichotomy)

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