To successfully cultivate the rare ghost orchid, one must precisely control the humidity of the greenhouse and use a specialized fungal fertilizer. The botanical garden has maintained precise humidity control in its new greenhouse and applied the specialized fungal fertilizer. Thus, the garden will certainly succeed in cultivating the ghost orchid.
Which of the following arguments exhibits a flawed pattern of reasoning most similar to that exhibited by the argument above?
- AThe city botanical garden does not precisely control the humidity of its greenhouses. This is clear because the garden is not attempting to successfully cultivate the rare ghost orchid, and to successfully cultivate this orchid, one must precisely control the humidity.
- BThe city's new library design was neither eco-friendly nor cost-effective. We know this because it did not win the architecture award, and to win the architecture award, a design must be both eco-friendly and cost-effective.
- Sarah finished the qualifying race in two hours and fifty minutes and received a clean bill of health from her doctor. Consequently, Sarah will qualify for the marathon, because anyone who qualifies for the marathon must complete the qualifying race under three hours and pass a rigorous medical examination.Answer
- DAny startup company that offers both generous stock options and flexible working hours will be successful. After all, some successful startup companies offer generous stock options, and some offer flexible working hours.
- EThe old courthouse cannot be torn down and its renovations will require period-accurate materials. This is because the old courthouse has just been designated as a historical landmark, and if a building is designated as a historical landmark, it cannot be demolished and any renovations must use period-accurate materials.
Answer
The argument concerning Sarah qualifying for the marathon replicates the identical flawed pattern of reasoning.
The correct answer replicates the illegal reversal of compound necessary conditions found in the stimulus. In the stimulus, the argument establishes that achieving a result (cultivating the orchid) requires two necessary conditions (humidity control and fertilizer), and then falsely concludes that meeting those conditions is sufficient to guarantee the result. The correct choice similarly states that qualifying for a marathon requires two conditions (time limit and medical exam), establishes that these conditions are met, and falsely concludes that this guarantees qualification. It perfectly mimics the logical structure while varying the order in which the premises and conclusion are presented to avoid superficial matching.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Parallel Flaw - Confusing Necessary and Sufficient Conditions