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- Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:00 am
#36651
Complete Question Explanation
Parallel Flaw. The correct answer choice is (A)
This political philosopher discusses fair taxation, saying that a just system would base each person’s
tax payments on the contribution that society has made to that person’s interest. In determining
taxation, the philosopher explains, the most objective way to determine how well an individual has
been served by society is one’s wealth. The philosopher concludes that income should therefore be
the only measure by which to determine how much a person gets taxed:
and decided to use it as the only measure by which to determine one’s level of taxation. The problem
with this argument is that there are many, many other ways to determine the degree to which one’s
personal interests have been served by society, and even the most objective way doesn’t necessary
stand alone as an accurate determinant.
The question stem asks for the answer choice that parallels this flawed logic, so the right answer
choice will likely have an argument that takes the best indicator and uses it as the only indicator.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Cars, says the author of this choice, should
be taxed more as their danger increases. The most reliable measure of danger is a car’s maximum
speed, so the author decides that a car’s ability to speed up should be the sole determinant of the rate
of taxation on that car:
well: autonomy should be proportionate to maturity. As a gauge of maturity, however, this choice
suggests a test that was specifically designed for such measurement (this is a little different from the
stimulus and the correct answer choice). The conclusion provides that a certain score should earn
total autonomy—rather absolute, despite the fact that proportionality was mentioned at the beginning
of this answer choice.
Answer choice (C): This choice may have some appeal based on its topical similarity—like the
stimulus, this choice deals with taxes that are based solely on benefits received from the government.
Since big corporations receive large government subsidies, the author provides, they should pay a
proportionately greater amount than individuals. This answer does not reflect the flaw found in the
stimulus, because a single method of measurement is not applied as the only measure.
Answer choice (D): The logic in this choice is flawed, but not in the same way as the stimulus. This
one says that people who give large material benefit to society should receive high incomes. Since
people with higher incomes should be taxed at a higher rate, the author continues, activities that give
large material benefits to society should be taxed at a higher rate.
The problem with the logic here is that starts with a “should” and pretends it is so:
People who give the most to society should have high incomes—that doesn’t mean that they do, so
taxing such activities is not necessarily just.
Answer choice (E): This choice does deal with justice and proportionality, so it may look good at
first: medical care should be given in proportion to need, so the sickest people should get the highest
priority—this describes a triage system, but it would not guarantee proportionate distribution of
care. Since this is not the flaw found in the stimulus—that of using the best measure as the only
measure—this cannot be the correct answer choice.
Parallel Flaw. The correct answer choice is (A)
This political philosopher discusses fair taxation, saying that a just system would base each person’s
tax payments on the contribution that society has made to that person’s interest. In determining
taxation, the philosopher explains, the most objective way to determine how well an individual has
been served by society is one’s wealth. The philosopher concludes that income should therefore be
the only measure by which to determine how much a person gets taxed:
- Premise: A just system would tax each person in proportion with the degree to which
the person’s interests have been served by society.
Premise: For tax purposes, the most objective measure of this is wealth.
Conclusion: Thus people should be taxed solely based on wealth.
and decided to use it as the only measure by which to determine one’s level of taxation. The problem
with this argument is that there are many, many other ways to determine the degree to which one’s
personal interests have been served by society, and even the most objective way doesn’t necessary
stand alone as an accurate determinant.
The question stem asks for the answer choice that parallels this flawed logic, so the right answer
choice will likely have an argument that takes the best indicator and uses it as the only indicator.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Cars, says the author of this choice, should
be taxed more as their danger increases. The most reliable measure of danger is a car’s maximum
speed, so the author decides that a car’s ability to speed up should be the sole determinant of the rate
of taxation on that car:
- Premise: The tax on cars should be in proportion to their danger.
Premise: The best measure of this danger is a car’s ability to accelerate.
Conclusion: A car’s acceleration should be the single determinant for a car’s taxation.
Like the political philosopher quoted in the stimulus, this choice takes the most reliable measure
(acceleration), then seeks to apply it as the only measure.
well: autonomy should be proportionate to maturity. As a gauge of maturity, however, this choice
suggests a test that was specifically designed for such measurement (this is a little different from the
stimulus and the correct answer choice). The conclusion provides that a certain score should earn
total autonomy—rather absolute, despite the fact that proportionality was mentioned at the beginning
of this answer choice.
Answer choice (C): This choice may have some appeal based on its topical similarity—like the
stimulus, this choice deals with taxes that are based solely on benefits received from the government.
Since big corporations receive large government subsidies, the author provides, they should pay a
proportionately greater amount than individuals. This answer does not reflect the flaw found in the
stimulus, because a single method of measurement is not applied as the only measure.
Answer choice (D): The logic in this choice is flawed, but not in the same way as the stimulus. This
one says that people who give large material benefit to society should receive high incomes. Since
people with higher incomes should be taxed at a higher rate, the author continues, activities that give
large material benefits to society should be taxed at a higher rate.
The problem with the logic here is that starts with a “should” and pretends it is so:
People who give the most to society should have high incomes—that doesn’t mean that they do, so
taxing such activities is not necessarily just.
Answer choice (E): This choice does deal with justice and proportionality, so it may look good at
first: medical care should be given in proportion to need, so the sickest people should get the highest
priority—this describes a triage system, but it would not guarantee proportionate distribution of
care. Since this is not the flaw found in the stimulus—that of using the best measure as the only
measure—this cannot be the correct answer choice.
