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Difficulty: MediumParallel Conditional Logic

If the tech startup's software is truly innovative, it will secure venture capital funding. However, the startup will not secure venture capital funding unless its founders have a proven track record. Therefore, if the tech startup's software is truly innovative, its founders must have a proven track record.

Which of the following arguments is most similar in its pattern of reasoning to the argument above?

  1. If the telescope's mirror is perfectly aligned, the images of the nebula will be exceptionally sharp. The images of the nebula will not be exceptionally sharp unless the atmospheric conditions are optimal. Therefore, if the telescope's mirror is perfectly aligned, the atmospheric conditions must be optimal.Answer
  2. B
    If the university expands its biology lab, it will attract top-tier researchers. The university will not attract top-tier researchers unless it offers competitive salaries. Therefore, if the university offers competitive salaries, it must expand its biology lab.
  3. C
    If the symphony orchestra rehearses daily, the performance will be flawless. The performance will not be flawless unless the conductor uses the original score. Thus, if the symphony orchestra does not rehearse daily, the conductor must not be using the original score.
  4. D
    If the CEO resigns, the company's stock price will fall. The CEO will not resign unless the quarterly earnings report is poor. Therefore, if the quarterly earnings report is poor, the company's stock price will fall.
  5. E
    If the software update is installed, the system's security will be enhanced. The system's security will not be enhanced unless the firewall is active. Therefore, if the software update is installed, the firewall is probably active.

Answer

The argument concerning the telescope's mirror, sharp images, and atmospheric conditions.
The correct answer accurately mirrors the stimulus by presenting a valid transitive chain. It establishes a sufficient condition leading to a necessary outcome (Aligned -> Sharp), introduces a second necessary condition using 'unless' (Sharp -> Optimal), and validly concludes that the initial sufficient condition guarantees the final necessary condition (Aligned -> Optimal).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Map the formal conditional structure of the stimulus.
Premise 1 translates to: Innovative -> Funding. Premise 2 uses 'unless', which translates to 'if not'. So, Not Track Record -> Not Funding, which forms the contrapositive: Funding -> Track Record.
Identifying the exact logical components is necessary for parallel reasoning.
2
Determine the validity and conclusion format of the stimulus.
The premises form a valid transitive chain: Innovative -> Funding -> Track Record. The conclusion (Innovative -> Track Record) validly follows with absolute certainty ('must').
A parallel argument must replicate the validity, chain structure, and modal strength of the original.
3
Evaluate the answer choices to find the exact structural match.
The telescope argument maps to: Aligned -> Sharp; Not Optimal -> Not Sharp (Sharp -> Optimal); Conclusion: Aligned -> Optimal. This perfectly matches the valid transitive structure and absolute certainty.
This is the only choice that does not introduce a logical flaw or alter the degree of certainty.

Key Concept

Parallel Conditional Logic using Transitive Chains and the word 'unless'
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Topics

Parallel Conditional Logic

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