abhasjha wrote:On average, city bus drivers who are using the new computerized fare-collection
system have a much better on-time record than do drivers using the old farecollection
system. Millicent Smith has the best on-time record of any bus driver
in the city. Therefore, she must be using the computerized fare-collection system.
Which one of the following contains flawed reasoning most similar to that
contained in the argument above?
(A) All the city’s solid-waste collection vehicles acquired after 1988 have a large
capacity than any of those acquired before 1988. This vehicle has the largest
capacity of any the city owns, so it must have been acquired after 1988.
(B) The soccer players on the blue team are generally taller than the players on
the gold team. Since Henri is a member of the blue team, he is undoubtedly
taller than most of the members of the gold team.
(C) This tomato is the largest of this year’s crop. Since the tomatoes in the
experimental plot are on average larger than those grown in the regular plots,
this tomato must have been grown in the experiment plot.

(D) Last week’s snowstorm in Toronto was probably an average storm for the
area. It was certainly heavier than any snowstorm known to have occurred in
Miami, but any average snowstorm in Toronto leaves more snow than ever
falls in Miami.
(E) Lawn mowers powered by electricity generally require less maintenance than
do lawn mowers powered by gasoline. This lawn mower is powered by
gasoline, so it will probably require a lot of maintenance

IMO [spoiler][C][/spoiler]- This tomato is the largest of this year’s crop. Since the tomatoes in the experimental plot are on average larger than those grown in the regular plots, this tomato must have been grown in the experiment plot.

Look at the bold parts in [spoiler][C][/spoiler] and those in the question stem.

I vouch for C

Reasoning in the stimulus is as follows:

X causes Y

We have Y, so X caused it

Question stem:
Similarly, Tomatoes grown in experimental-largest size

we have largest tomato, so it was grown in experimental plot.

Try other alternatives, C suits this analogy.

I will go with C but for other reasons

On average, city bus drivers who are using the new computerized fare-collection
system have a much better on-time record than do drivers using the old farecollection
system.

We must find what is the flaw first.
The word "on average" uses a statistical methodology.However, there might be somebody in the old system group who have very good record.

A) All the city’s solid-waste collection vehicles acquired after 1988 have a large
capacity than any of those acquired before 1988. This vehicle has the largest
capacity of any the city owns, so it must have been acquired after 1988.

There is no ambiguity here, before the argument proceeds,it clearly says "All"

(

B) The soccer players on the blue team are generally taller than the players on
the gold team. Since Henri is a member of the blue team, he is undoubtedly
taller than most of the members of the gold team

Undoubtedly=>extreme word

C) This tomato is the largest of this year’s crop. Since the tomatoes in the
experimental plot are on average larger than those grown in the regular plots,
this tomato must have been grown in the experiment plot

Uses the same method for comparing"average"

(D) Last week’s snowstorm in Toronto was probably an average storm for the
area. It was certainly heavier than any snowstorm known to have occurred in
Miami, but any average snowstorm in Toronto leaves more snow than ever
falls in Miami

Out of scope

Same E is also out of scope

Hope this helps

OA- C

official explanation follows :

The evidence consists first of a statement that, on average, members of one group (drivers
using the new system) have a trait (on-time record) superior to members of another group
(those on the old system). Then an agent (Millicent) is cited as #1 in that trait (best on-time
record). Thus, so it goes, she must be a member of the first group. Well, not so: Since the
argument is based on averages for each group, it’s quite possible for the driver with the
best on-time record of all to be part of either group. But substitute (C)’s “that tomato” for
Millicent, “largest” for best on-time record, “experimental plot” for new system, and
“regular plot” for old system, and the same (crummy) logic is at work.
(A) Very close in form to the original, incorrect because it’s not flawed logic! If in fact all
post-1988 vehicles are bigger than all pre-1988 vehicles, then it has to be true that the largest
vehicle of all was post-1988, as (A) cites.
(B) would be closer to the stimulus if its conclusion, rather than its evidence, were about
Henri’s certain membership in a group. Anyhow, (B)’s conclusion is too qualified (“taller
than most”) to match up to those of the stimulus and choice (C).
(D),(E) The very fact that the stimulus concludes that something must be true right then
and there eliminates (D) and (E), each of whose conclusions is that something “probably”
occurred.
• Start a Parallel Logic question by locating the conclusion, and tossing out choices
whose conclusion is manifestly different. Doing that here reduces your chances to 1-
in-3; sometimes the tactic gets you even further than that.

• Note that correct choice (C), here, cites the pieces of evidence in reverse order from
the original. No matter. The evidence and conclusion in the right answer don’t have
to be stated in the same order as the original; they simply must be of the same type.
• Don’t read question stems too quickly. If you miss the reminder that the right
answer and stimulus are flawed, you might very well be tempted by (A), whose form
is awfully close.

I marked option C