Environmental Scientist: Every wetland restoration project that successfully reestablishes native peat moss receives a regional conservation certification. Furthermore, all projects that receive a regional conservation certification qualify for priority public endowment funding. The Blackwood Bog project did not successfully reestablish native peat moss. Thus, the Blackwood Bog project does not qualify for priority public endowment funding.
Which one of the following arguments exhibits a flawed pattern of reasoning most similar to that exhibited by the argument above?
- AEvery published historical monograph that relies on primary archival correspondence receives academic peer commendation. Any monograph that receives academic peer commendation is selected for university library acquisition. The monograph on maritime trade was selected for university library acquisition. Thus, the monograph on maritime trade must have relied on primary archival correspondence.
- BAny wildlife reserve that reestablishes native wetland flora attracts migratory waterfowl. Furthermore, every reserve that attracts migratory waterfowl receives regional conservation funding. The Heron Marsh reserve receives regional conservation funding. Therefore, the Heron Marsh reserve must have successfully reestablished native wetland flora.
- Every commercial building that incorporates passive solar ventilation earns a high-efficiency designation. Moreover, any building that earns a high-efficiency designation is exempt from the municipal carbon levy. The Crestview Office Complex did not incorporate passive solar ventilation. Hence, the Crestview Office Complex is not exempt from the municipal carbon levy.Answer
- DEvery municipal transit fleet that converts entirely to electric propulsion reduces local particulate emissions. Some transit fleets that reduce local particulate emissions fail to qualify for regional clean-air subsidies. The Metro City transit fleet did not convert entirely to electric propulsion. Therefore, the Metro City transit fleet will definitely fail to qualify for regional clean-air subsidies.
- EEvery musical composition that adheres strictly to twelve-tone serialism avoids traditional harmonic cadences. Furthermore, any composition that avoids traditional harmonic cadences requires specialized performance techniques. The chamber concerto does not require specialized performance techniques. Consequently, the chamber concerto does not adhere strictly to twelve-tone serialism.
Answer
The argument concerning the Crestview Office Complex and passive solar ventilation
The correct answer exhibits the identical structural flaw found in the stimulus. The stimulus establishes a conditional chain (Peat moss -> Certification -> Priority funding) and invalidly concludes that the absence of the initial condition (Peat moss) guarantees the absence of the end condition (Priority funding). Similarly, the correct argument establishes a conditional chain (Passive solar -> High-efficiency -> Carbon levy exemption) and invalidly concludes that the absence of the initial condition (Passive solar) guarantees the absence of the end condition (Carbon levy exemption). Both commit the formal fallacy of denying the antecedent across two universal conditional premises.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Parallel Flaw: Mistaken Negation across a Conditional Chain
Estimated Time:1m 25s