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Difficulty: MediumParallel Reasoning and Parallel Flaw

Geochemist: Any volcanic rock formation formed from high-viscosity magma contains significant trace deposits of obsidian. The basalt plateau in the western valley contains significant trace deposits of obsidian. Thus, the basalt plateau must have been formed from high-viscosity magma.

Which one of the following arguments exhibits flawed reasoning most similar to that in the geochemist's argument?

  1. A
    Any commercial airline pilot who flies international transoceanic routes must complete advanced emergency flight simulation training. Captain Rivera does not fly international transoceanic routes. Consequently, Captain Rivera has not completed advanced emergency flight simulation training.
  2. B
    Every field research team studying volcanic vents must carry portable sulfur gas monitors. Dr. Chen's geological team did not bring portable sulfur gas monitors. Therefore, Dr. Chen's team cannot be a field research team studying volcanic vents.
  3. Any public municipal archive that qualifies for the state preservation grant maintains a climate-controlled manuscript vault. The Central City Historical Archive maintains a climate-controlled manuscript vault. Therefore, the Central City Historical Archive must qualify for the state preservation grant.Answer
  4. D
    Every corporate division that exceeds its quarterly sales target is allocated an increased travel budget for the fiscal year. The logistics division exceeded its quarterly sales target this quarter. Hence, the logistics division will be allocated an increased travel budget for the fiscal year.
  5. E
    Any wildlife documentary that wins the national festival award is featured on major international broadcast networks. The nature series about alpine ecosystems might be featured on major international broadcast networks. It follows that this series could win the national festival award.

Answer

The argument concluding that the Central City Historical Archive must qualify for the state preservation grant
The argument concerning the Central City Historical Archive mirrors the exact logical flaw of affirming the consequent (mistaken reversal). It takes a rule stating that a condition is necessary for a certain status, observes that the necessary condition is met, and mistakenly concludes that the status itself must be present.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the logical structure of the stimulus argument
Premise 1: High-viscosity magma (H) → Trace obsidian (O). Premise 2: Basalt plateau has trace obsidian (O). Conclusion: Basalt plateau must be formed from high-viscosity magma (H).
Deconstructing the argument into symbolic logic isolates the underlying pattern from surface content.
2
Identify the logical flaw in the stimulus
Mistaken Reversal (Affirming the Consequent): The argument confuses a necessary condition with a sufficient condition.
Parallel flaw questions require matching the exact defect in reasoning.
3
Evaluate option choices to identify structural isomorphism
The municipal archive argument follows the identical pattern: Grant qualification (G) → Climate-controlled vault (V); Archive has vault (V); Conclusion: Archive must qualify for grant (G).
The correct parallel argument must mirror the conditional premises, modal certainty, and erroneous inferential step.

Key Concept

Parallel Flaw: Mistaken Reversal (Affirming the Consequent)
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Parallel Reasoning and Parallel Flaw

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