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Difficulty: MediumParallel Valid Structure

Any oil painting that is to be successfully restored must first be thoroughly cleaned. Furthermore, an oil painting can be thoroughly cleaned only if its original varnish is completely dissolved. The original varnish on the newly discovered portrait cannot be completely dissolved. Therefore, the newly discovered portrait cannot be successfully restored.

Which one of the following arguments exhibits a pattern of reasoning most similar to that exhibited by the argument above?

  1. A
    Any artifact displayed in the main exhibition hall must be authenticated by two independent experts. Furthermore, an artifact can be authenticated by two independent experts only if its provenance is fully documented. The provenance of the recently acquired vase is fully documented. Therefore, the recently acquired vase will be displayed in the main exhibition hall.
  2. A commercial development project can be approved by the city council only if it passes an environmental impact review. Any project that passes an environmental impact review must include a comprehensive traffic management plan. The proposed shopping plaza does not include a comprehensive traffic management plan. Thus, the proposed shopping plaza cannot be approved by the city council.Answer
  3. C
    Any software application that handles financial transactions must utilize end-to-end encryption. Moreover, an application utilizes end-to-end encryption only if it undergoes regular third-party security audits. The new messaging app does not handle financial transactions. Consequently, the new messaging app will not undergo regular third-party security audits.
  4. D
    Most crops that are resistant to the blight have been genetically modified. Additionally, any crop that has been genetically modified requires a specific synthetic fertilizer. The local farmer's wheat crop does not require a specific synthetic fertilizer. Hence, the local farmer's wheat crop is probably not resistant to the blight.
  5. E
    To qualify for the municipal tax exemption, a non-profit organization must operate exclusively for either educational or charitable purposes. The local community center does not operate exclusively for charitable purposes. Thus, the local community center does not qualify for the municipal tax exemption.

Answer

The argument concerning the commercial development project and the traffic management plan.
The correct answer perfectly mirrors the valid deductive structure of the original stimulus. The stimulus establishes a chain of necessary conditions (Restored -> Cleaned -> Varnish Dissolved), introduces a specific case where the final necessary condition is unmet (~Varnish Dissolved), and validly concludes that the sufficient condition cannot occur (~Restored). The correct option establishes an identical chain (Approved -> Review -> Traffic Plan), introduces a case where the final necessary condition is unmet (~Traffic Plan), and validly concludes that the sufficient condition cannot occur (~Approved).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Diagram the formal logical structure of the stimulus.
Restored -> Cleaned. Cleaned -> Varnish Dissolved. The portrait is NOT Varnish Dissolved. Conclusion: Therefore, the portrait is NOT Restored.
Mapping the conditional statements reveals the underlying skeleton of the argument: A -> B, B -> C. ~C. Therefore, ~A.
2
Identify the type and validity of the reasoning in the stimulus.
The argument is a valid application of chain conditional reasoning followed by modus tollens (denying the consequent). All premises use absolute certainty (any, must).
To find a parallel argument, the correct answer must also be fully valid, use the same logical mechanics, and match the absolute degree of certainty.
3
Evaluate the options to find the exact matching structure, regardless of subject matter.
The correct option diagrams as: Approved -> Environmental Review. Environmental Review -> Traffic Plan. The plaza is NOT Traffic Plan. Conclusion: Therefore, the plaza is NOT Approved.
This is a perfect structural duplicate of A -> B, B -> C, ~C, therefore ~A, maintaining absolute certainty throughout.

Key Concept

Parallel Valid Structure (Chain Conditionals and Modus Tollens)
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Topics

Parallel Valid Structure

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