Parallel Reasoning

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Parallel Reasoning

by karansingh » Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:27 am
Please help me solve this.

Dr. A: The new influenza vaccine is useless at best and possibly dangerous. I would never use it on a patient.
Dr. B: But three studies published in the Journal of Medical Associates have rated that vaccine as unusually effective.
Dr. A: The studies must have been faulty because the vaccine is worthless.
In which of the following is the reasoning most similar to that of Dr. A?
(A) Three of my patients have been harmed by that vaccine during the past three weeks, so the vaccine is unsafe.
(B) Jerrold Jersey recommends this milk, and I don't trust Jerrold Jersey, so I won't buy this milk.
(C) Wingzz tennis balls perform best because they are far more effective than any other tennis balls.
(D) I'm buying Vim Vitamins. Doctors recommend them more often than they recommend any other vitamins, so Vim Vitamins must be good.
(E) Since University of Muldoon graduates score about 20 percent higher than average on the GMAT, Sheila Lee, a University of Muldoon graduate, will score about 20 percent higher than average when she takes the GMAT.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by fitzgerald23 » Tue Dec 14, 2010 7:15 am
This does not sound anything like a question you would see on the GMAT.

What this boils down to is the following:

DrA: The new item is useless
DRB: Studies show it is not
DRA:Well the studies are wrong in my opinion it is useless

A. Incorrect. The doctor never states any evidence to reach his conclusion. Patients being harmed would be evidence
B. Incorrect. He never states that his mistrust of the studies is what causes him to reject their conclusion. A recommendation plays no role in his decision
C. Correct. This is just a statement of opinion. There is no real evidence presented just a statement that he personally believes.
D. Incorrect. This actually is opposite of what he is saying as the purchase is based on a recommendation
E. Incorrect. Again this is using evidence to support some type of conclusion which the doctor does not do.

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by karansingh » Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:03 am
Thnx...

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by sharmasumitn1 » Tue Dec 14, 2010 11:57 am
karansingh wrote:Please help me solve this.

Dr. A: The new influenza vaccine is useless at best and possibly dangerous. I would never use it on a patient.
Dr. B: But three studies published in the Journal of Medical Associates have rated that vaccine as unusually effective.
Dr. A: The studies must have been faulty because the vaccine is worthless.
In which of the following is the reasoning most similar to that of Dr. A?
(A) Three of my patients have been harmed by that vaccine during the past three weeks, so the vaccine is unsafe.
(B) Jerrold Jersey recommends this milk, and I don't trust Jerrold Jersey, so I won't buy this milk.
(C) Wingzz tennis balls perform best because they are far more effective than any other tennis balls.
(D) I'm buying Vim Vitamins. Doctors recommend them more often than they recommend any other vitamins, so Vim Vitamins must be good.
(E) Since University of Muldoon graduates score about 20 percent higher than average on the GMAT, Sheila Lee, a University of Muldoon graduate, will score about 20 percent higher than average when she takes the GMAT.
The stimulus is a weak argument. Dr. A provides no evidence rather uses his conclusion to make the argument stronger.

C is correct.

C is a weak argument and C does not provide any evidence to make the argument stronger. It rather uses the conclusion and derives strength out of it.