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parallel flawed reasoning

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by gmatnmein2010 » Tue Feb 09, 2010 3:07 am
Using rational argument in advertisements does not persuade people to buy the products being advertised. Therefore, advertisers who replace rational argument with nonrational appeals to emotion in advertisements will persuade people to buy the products being advertised.
Which one of the following contains flawed reasoning most similar to the flawed reasoning in the argument above?

(A) People who ask others for favors are refused. Therefore, anyone who has not had the experience of being refused has never asked for a favor.

(B) In the past, people who have tried to solve their problems by discussing them have often failed. Therefore, in the future, people who try to solve their problems by discussing them will often fail.

(C) Using a computer has not improved students' writing skills. Thus, students should not try to improve their writing skills by using a computer.

(D) A person who does not have positive letters of reference cannot get a good job. Therefore, the better the letters of reference a person has, the better the job that person will get.

(E) People never learn to program a computer by reading poorly written directions. Therefore, if people read well-written directions, they will learn to program a computer.
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |

by thephoenix » Tue Feb 09, 2010 3:36 am
IMO E
Using rational argument in advertisements does not persuade people to buy the products being advertised. Therefore, advertisers who replace rational argument with nonrational appeals to emotion in advertisements will persuade people to buy the products being advertised.

Logic is X does not result in Y. Therefore Not X should result in Y
only E llels that reasoning
Poor worded instructions does not result in programming ability. Therefore not poorly worded instructions should result in programming ability.
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by komal » Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:24 am
gmatnmein2010 wrote:Using rational argument in advertisements does not persuade people to buy the products being advertised. Therefore, advertisers who replace rational argument with nonrational appeals to emotion in advertisements will persuade people to buy the products being advertised.

Which one of the following contains flawed reasoning most similar to the flawed reasoning in the argument above?

(A) People who ask others for favors are refused. Therefore, anyone who has not had the experience of being refused has never asked for a favor.

(B) In the past, people who have tried to solve their problems by discussing them have often failed. Therefore, in the future, people who try to solve their problems by discussing them will often fail.

(C) Using a computer has not improved students' writing skills. Thus, students should not try to improve their writing skills by using a computer.

(D) A person who does not have positive letters of reference cannot get a good job. Therefore, the better the letters of reference a person has, the better the job that person will get.

(E) People never learn to program a computer by reading poorly written directions. Therefore, if people read well-written directions, they will learn to program a computer.

The argument above can be expressed as below :

When X happens (rational argument) Y does not happen (purchase by ppl)
But When Z happens (non-rational argument) Y happens (purchase by ppl)

Only Answer choice (E) follows the flawed reasoning demonstrated in the argument above. Hence (E) is correct.


Hope this helps : )
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by chaya009 » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:33 am
I narrowed it to D & E, and both followed the same logic.
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:35 am
chaya009 wrote:I narrowed it to D & E, and both followed the same logic.
The logical force is different D uses correct reasoning. While the stimulus presents flawed reasoning.
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by chaya009 » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:40 am
Thanks i got it now,If my understanding is right, if the stimulus had been

A person cannot get a job if he does not have positive letters of reference cannot get a good job. Therefore, the better the letters of reference a person has, the better the job that person will get.

Am i correct.
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:42 am
chaya009 wrote:Thanks i got it now,If my understanding is right, if the stimulus had been

A person cannot get a job if he does not have positive letters of reference cannot get a good job. Therefore, the better the letters of reference a person has, the better the job that person will get.

Am i correct.
Yes, that is something I had to learn as well. If the stimulus contains flawed reasoning, the correct answer has to match that reasoning. Its hard to do because it adds another burden to us, we have to not only find the correct answer, but also determine if the reasoning is correct or flawed.
https://www.beatthegmat.com/the-retake-o ... 51414.html

Brandon Dorsey
GMAT Instructor
Veritas Prep

Buy any Veritas Prep book(s) and receive access to 5 Practice Cats for free! Learn More.
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