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#23227
Complete Question Explanation

Parallel Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (D)

The author cautions against confuse quality with prestige: while there is nothing wrong with paying for the latter, doing so does not ensure better quality. The same kind of cautionary recommendation appears in answer choice (D): while there is nothing wrong with befriending a charming person, we should not assume that a charming person is necessarily loyal and virtuous.

Answer choice (A): Comparing the undesirable features of two alternatives is not the same as confusing two features of the same product. While both arguments end with a cautionary recommendation, the stimulus does not entail the balancing of one undesirable quality against another. This answer choice is incorrect.

Answer choice (B): The conclusion test should quickly eliminate this answer choice, since it does not contain the cautionary recommendation ("one should know that") contained in the stimulus.

Answer choice (C): The conclusion test should quickly eliminate this answer choice too, since it does not contain the cautionary recommendation ("one should know that") contained in the stimulus. Furthermore, choosing between two alternative approaches to learning a new skill (doing it quickly versus enjoying the process of acquiring it) has no parallel in the stimulus. This answer choice is incorrect.

Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. See explanation above.

Answer choice (E): At first glance, this is an attractive answer choice, because it contains a cautionary recommendation against a certain course of action (yearning to be on stage while watching a play). However, the stimulus does not contain an imperative to pursue a given course of action: the author explicitly states there is no harm in paying for status if that is what we want, not that we should, for our own sakes, learn to distinguish between quality and status. Furthermore, this answer choice does not warn against confusing one quality with another. Because the stimulus only tells us what we should know and not how we should act, this answer choice is incorrect.

Question #18: Parallel Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (A)
With this Parallel question, as with many of this type, abstraction can make it easier to find the answer choice with mirror reasoning. Two sources of possible evidence (writers and statutes) are mentioned, and something is absent from both of them. Therefore, even though many people think this activity occurred, it is probably unlikely. Basically (abstractly), the absence of something according to research shows that common public opinion is likely inaccurate.
 silent7706
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#67557
Hi,

So I notice that the stimulus seems to make a rather absolute claim"...you are paying for prestige, not quality", while (D) says "...a charming friend is not necessarily a good and loyal friend." Is there some sort of mismatch of conclusion strength here?

Granted that (D) is still the best among the five choices, but the point I made above did cause me to hesitate when picking (D).

Thanks in advance.
 Jeremy Press
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#67604
Hi silent7706,

I completely agree that on a surface read of the conclusions it looks like there might be a certainty mismatch. But let's dive into the reasoning of the stimulus a little more deeply. Why does the author think you're paying for prestige, not quality? Two reasons: first, because "often" the popular product is no better than any other; and second, because the product's reputation (which "may" be independent of its quality) provides status. So the author would agree that when we buy such products there's a possibility of getting something of quality (the "often" and the "may" indicate that possibility). But it's not certain. Which is why the author can conclude that you should be honest that what you're paying for is really status (because you can't be certain what you're paying for is quality).

On that read of the stimulus, that exactly fits the level of certainty of answer choice D. With the friend in answer choice D, what you're paying for is charm, not goodness and loyalty. Why? Because charm is "often" confused with virtue (meaning the two qualities are not necessarily appearing together in every case).

I hope this helps!

Jeremy

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