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Difficulty: HardParallel Causal Reasoning

Studies indicate that elderly individuals who own pets are significantly less likely to suffer from clinical depression than those who do not. Clearly, the companionship provided by pets actively prevents the onset of depression in the elderly.

Which one of the following exhibits a flawed pattern of reasoning most similar to that in the argument above?

  1. Children who frequently play strategy board games score higher on cognitive reasoning tests than children who do not. It is evident that playing these games develops advanced cognitive reasoning skills.Answer
  2. B
    Adults who consume a Mediterranean diet are generally less likely to develop heart disease. Thus, anyone who switches to a Mediterranean diet will completely eliminate their risk of developing heart disease.
  3. C
    Regular meditation is proven to significantly reduce cortisol levels in the bloodstream. Therefore, anyone currently experiencing consistently low cortisol levels must be practicing regular meditation.
  4. D
    Elderly individuals who live in neighborhoods with well-maintained public parks exercise more frequently than those who do not. It follows that building more parks is the most effective way to encourage the elderly to exercise.
  5. E
    A recent survey showed that the university's engineering department has the highest average faculty salary. Consequently, Professor Smith, who teaches in the engineering department, must earn a higher salary than Professor Jones, who teaches in the history department.

Answer

The correct answer is the argument regarding children who frequently play strategy board games.
The correct answer accurately parallels the logical structure and the specific flaw of the stimulus. The stimulus moves from a correlation (pet ownership and lower depression rates) to a definitive causal claim (pets prevent depression), ignoring the possibility of reverse causation. Similarly, this option moves from a correlation (playing strategy games and higher cognitive scores) to a definitive causal claim (playing games develops cognitive skills), ignoring the equally plausible reverse causation that children who already possess higher cognitive skills are naturally drawn to complex strategy games.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the premises of the stimulus argument.
The premise establishes a correlation: elderly individuals with pets have lower rates of depression than those without.
Identifying the nature of the evidence is the first step in determining the argument's structure.
2
Analyze the conclusion and identify the logical flaw in the stimulus.
The conclusion claims that owning pets (the cause) actively prevents depression (the effect). The flaw is assuming causation based solely on correlation, ignoring alternative explanations such as reverse causation (people who are not depressed are more likely to have the energy to adopt a pet).
To find a parallel flaw, one must precisely articulate the specific error in reasoning committed by the original argument.
3
Determine the structural template required for the correct answer.
Target template: Premise observes a correlation between X and Y. Conclusion definitively asserts that X causes Y.
A blueprint helps quickly eliminate answer choices that use different logical structures or different degrees of certainty.
4
Evaluate the answer choices against the target template.
The option about strategy board games observes a correlation (playing games and high scores) and asserts definitive causation (playing games develops the skills), matching the template perfectly.
Systematic evaluation ensures the selected option matches both the flaw type and the quantifier strength of the original argument.

Key Concept

Parallel Causal Reasoning (Correlation vs. Causation)
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Parallel Causal Reasoning

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