According to the city's new preservation guidelines, if a building is to be designated as a historical landmark, it must preserve its original exterior facade and be structurally reinforced against earthquakes. Furthermore, if a building is constructed of unreinforced masonry, it cannot be structurally reinforced against earthquakes. The old municipal library is constructed of unreinforced masonry. Therefore, the old municipal library will not be designated as a historical landmark.
Which of the following arguments exhibits a pattern of reasoning most logically parallel to that demonstrated in the argument above?
- AAccording to the corporate bylaws, if a candidate is to be hired for the executive role, they must possess an advanced degree and have ten years of management experience. If a candidate is an internal promotion, they automatically possess an advanced degree. Sarah is an internal promotion and has ten years of management experience. Therefore, Sarah will be hired for the executive role.
- BAccording to industry standards, if a software program is to be deemed secure, it must utilize end-to-end encryption and require multi-factor authentication. If a program is open-source, it does not utilize end-to-end encryption. The new messaging application is not open-source. Therefore, the new messaging application will be deemed secure.
- CAccording to the economic forecast, if a nation's economy is to recover rapidly, it must either significantly increase its manufacturing output or discover new energy reserves. If a nation is landlocked, it cannot discover new energy reserves. The nation of Lumeria is landlocked. Thus, Lumeria's economy will not recover rapidly.
- DAccording to the zoning regulations, if a structure is to be classified as a skyscraper, it must be constructed with a reinforced steel frame. If a structure is designed by an amateur, it cannot be constructed with a reinforced steel frame. The proposed downtown office complex was designed by an amateur. Therefore, the proposed complex will not be classified as a skyscraper.
- According to the hospital's protocol, if a patient is to be prescribed the experimental medication, they must possess normal kidney function and be closely monitored by a specialist. If a patient resides in a rural area, they cannot be closely monitored by a specialist. Patient Jones resides in a rural area. Therefore, Patient Jones will not be prescribed the experimental medication.Answer
Answer
The argument concerning Patient Jones being denied the experimental medication due to residing in a rural area.
The stimulus argument employs a valid form of conditional reasoning using a conditional chain to trigger the contrapositive of a compound necessary condition. It states that two conditions are necessary for a building to become a landmark (A → B and C). It then introduces a second conditional rule establishing that a certain characteristic prevents one of those necessary conditions (D → ~C), and applies this to a specific case (X is D) to validly conclude the sufficient condition cannot occur (X is ~A). The correct answer perfectly mirrors this structure: it establishes two necessary conditions for a medication prescription, introduces a second rule showing a characteristic prevents one of those conditions, and validly concludes the medication will not be prescribed for a patient with that characteristic.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Parallel Conditional Logic