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- Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:29 pm
#84840
Complete Question Explanation
Parallel Flaw. The correct answer choice is (D)
The structure of the argument is very distinct: the two premises and conclusion each contain the
quantity indicator “most.” That structure must be paralleled in the correct answer choice, and you
would be wise to immediately check the answers upon recognizing the triple “most” formation. Let
us do so now:
Answer choice (A): The second line of the answer choice contains the phrase “very few.” Since this
is different from “most,” this answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): The answer choice contains the phrases “cannot” and “no one,” both of which
are different from “most.”
Answer choice (C): The phrase “usually” is a synonym for “most,” but the two “all” statements are
different enough to make this answer choice suspect.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer, and the only one with three “mosts.”
Answer choice (E): The second line contains a conditional premise (introduced by “only”). Since the
argument does not contain a similar premise, this answer is incorrect.
Amazingly, the application of this basic structural element solves the problem very quickly. The
question itself represents a perfect example of how you should attack Parallel Reasoning questions:
search for the most distinctive element, then use that element to eliminate as many answer choices as
possible. You will not always be lucky enough to eliminate all four incorrect answer choices at once,
but any answer you eliminate puts you one step closer to your goal.
For the record, the argument makes an error of division in assuming that a general proposition
about “most people” will apply to any subset of that group. In this case, “most people who shop for
groceries” could be about the entire United States, and within this group there could be towns and
cities such as Hallstown that do not conform to the general truth that applies to the whole.
Parallel Flaw. The correct answer choice is (D)
The structure of the argument is very distinct: the two premises and conclusion each contain the
quantity indicator “most.” That structure must be paralleled in the correct answer choice, and you
would be wise to immediately check the answers upon recognizing the triple “most” formation. Let
us do so now:
Answer choice (A): The second line of the answer choice contains the phrase “very few.” Since this
is different from “most,” this answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): The answer choice contains the phrases “cannot” and “no one,” both of which
are different from “most.”
Answer choice (C): The phrase “usually” is a synonym for “most,” but the two “all” statements are
different enough to make this answer choice suspect.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer, and the only one with three “mosts.”
Answer choice (E): The second line contains a conditional premise (introduced by “only”). Since the
argument does not contain a similar premise, this answer is incorrect.
Amazingly, the application of this basic structural element solves the problem very quickly. The
question itself represents a perfect example of how you should attack Parallel Reasoning questions:
search for the most distinctive element, then use that element to eliminate as many answer choices as
possible. You will not always be lucky enough to eliminate all four incorrect answer choices at once,
but any answer you eliminate puts you one step closer to your goal.
For the record, the argument makes an error of division in assuming that a general proposition
about “most people” will apply to any subset of that group. In this case, “most people who shop for
groceries” could be about the entire United States, and within this group there could be towns and
cities such as Hallstown that do not conform to the general truth that applies to the whole.
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