- Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:19 pm
#84837
Complete Question Explanation
Parallel Flaw. The correct answer choice is (E)
Approach the question from the following perspective:
Imagine for a moment that when you first read the stimulus you
were completely lost. Nothing in the argument stood out, and
although you recognized the premise and conclusion, you did not
feel that either was notable.
First, take the “action” of the stimulus and turn it into a generalized
summary. Following is the stimulus and then an abstraction of that
stimulus:
Stimulus: “An independent audit found no indication of tax
avoidance on the part of the firm in the firm’s
accounts; therefore, no such problem exists.”
Abstraction: “Since they looked and didn’t find anything, it
doesn’t exist.”
Remember, our abstraction does not have to be perfect—it simply needs
to be a reasonable description of what occurred in the stimulus. If we can
only eliminate three of the answer choices by applying the abstraction,
then we can refine our description until one of the remaining answers is
eliminated.
Answer choice (A): Does this answer match our short description of the
stimulus? No, this answer is about “no changes from the past translate
into no changes in the future.” There is no element of “searching and not
finding.”
Answer choice (B): Again, quickly, does this answer match our short
description of the stimulus? No, this answer is about cost overruns on
projects.
Answer choice (C): This answer is superior to answers (A) and (B).
The first lines indicate that essays on current events are missing from a
compilation of the best essays. This knowledge implies a search has taken
place and no essay fitting the description was found. So far, so good.
The conclusion, however, fails to match what we are seeking. Based
on the premise in this answer choice, we need a conclusion that states
something to the effect of, “therefore no such student essay on current
events exists.” Instead, we get an entirely different type of conclusion:
“therefore, students have become apathetic toward current events.” Since
this conclusion fails to match our abstract description of the stimulus, this
answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): This answer has an element that is similar to the
stimulus, but in the final analysis it fails to match our abstract description.
First, just like the stimulus, the answer contains a search (the “survey”).
However, the search in the stimulus did not turn up anything whereas the
search in answer choice (D) turns up results (“no school without a need”
is the same as “every school has a need”). Most damning, however, is that
the conclusion of the answer choice does not have the same abstract form
as the conclusion in the stimulus. Since the general intent and execution of
this answer does not match our abstraction, this answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. First, let’s revisit our
general description of the stimulus:
“Since they looked and didn’t find anything, it doesn’t exist.”
Now, compare that to the answer choice:
“An examination of the index of the book found no listing for the
most prominent critic of the theory the book advocates; therefore,
the book fails to refer to that critic.”
A search was conducted but no results were found, and on that basis a
conclusion is drawn that no such thing exists. This perfectly matches our
description, and this answer is correct.
Parallel Flaw. The correct answer choice is (E)
Approach the question from the following perspective:
Imagine for a moment that when you first read the stimulus you
were completely lost. Nothing in the argument stood out, and
although you recognized the premise and conclusion, you did not
feel that either was notable.
First, take the “action” of the stimulus and turn it into a generalized
summary. Following is the stimulus and then an abstraction of that
stimulus:
Stimulus: “An independent audit found no indication of tax
avoidance on the part of the firm in the firm’s
accounts; therefore, no such problem exists.”
Abstraction: “Since they looked and didn’t find anything, it
doesn’t exist.”
Remember, our abstraction does not have to be perfect—it simply needs
to be a reasonable description of what occurred in the stimulus. If we can
only eliminate three of the answer choices by applying the abstraction,
then we can refine our description until one of the remaining answers is
eliminated.
Answer choice (A): Does this answer match our short description of the
stimulus? No, this answer is about “no changes from the past translate
into no changes in the future.” There is no element of “searching and not
finding.”
Answer choice (B): Again, quickly, does this answer match our short
description of the stimulus? No, this answer is about cost overruns on
projects.
Answer choice (C): This answer is superior to answers (A) and (B).
The first lines indicate that essays on current events are missing from a
compilation of the best essays. This knowledge implies a search has taken
place and no essay fitting the description was found. So far, so good.
The conclusion, however, fails to match what we are seeking. Based
on the premise in this answer choice, we need a conclusion that states
something to the effect of, “therefore no such student essay on current
events exists.” Instead, we get an entirely different type of conclusion:
“therefore, students have become apathetic toward current events.” Since
this conclusion fails to match our abstract description of the stimulus, this
answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): This answer has an element that is similar to the
stimulus, but in the final analysis it fails to match our abstract description.
First, just like the stimulus, the answer contains a search (the “survey”).
However, the search in the stimulus did not turn up anything whereas the
search in answer choice (D) turns up results (“no school without a need”
is the same as “every school has a need”). Most damning, however, is that
the conclusion of the answer choice does not have the same abstract form
as the conclusion in the stimulus. Since the general intent and execution of
this answer does not match our abstraction, this answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. First, let’s revisit our
general description of the stimulus:
“Since they looked and didn’t find anything, it doesn’t exist.”
Now, compare that to the answer choice:
“An examination of the index of the book found no listing for the
most prominent critic of the theory the book advocates; therefore,
the book fails to refer to that critic.”
A search was conducted but no results were found, and on that basis a
conclusion is drawn that no such thing exists. This perfectly matches our
description, and this answer is correct.