Parallel Reasoning Question

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komal: Legendary Member; Posts: 777; Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2010 4:02 amFollowed by: 47 members; Location: Mumbai, India; Thanked: 117 times

by komal » Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:07 am

It is not absurd to say "I know that this is a tadpole, but why should I believe that it will turn into a frog?". But it is absurd to say 'I know that this is a tadpole and that all tadpoles turn into frogs, but why should I believe that this will turn into a frog?". Here I commit the absurdity of simultaneously giving the proof of a conclusion and casting doubt on the conclusion. Which of the following questions would be considered absurd according to the passage above?

(A) I know girls carry handbags but why should I believe you are a girl just because you are carrying a handbag.

(B) I know roses bloom in winter but why should I believe that this is a rose because its winter.

(C) Birds chirp only in the morning but why should I believe that this is a rose because birds are chirping.

(D) Dogs bark at strangers but why should I believe that I am a stranger just because the dog is barking at me.

(E) Apes love nuts, all the nuts are gone why should I believe that the apes have eaten all the nuts.

It would be help if you could provide answer to this WITH EXPLANATION.

Source: Beat The GMAT — Critical Reasoning | Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:07 am

prinit: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 183; Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:13 pm; Location: Greater NYC; Thanked: 14 times

by prinit » Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:00 pm

My Pick is C.

reason: In the argument But it is absurd to say 'I know that this is a tadpole and that all tadpoles turn into frogs, but why should I believe that this(tadpole) will turn into a frog?".

Its given that All tadpoles turn into frogs...so it is absurd to say but why should I believe that this will turn into a frog? , So I can't say that because>> All tadpoles turn into frogs. is already given.

now pay attention to below choice:
(C) Birds chirp only in the morning but why should I believe that this is a morning because birds are chirping

its given that Birds chirp only in the morning, so i have to say that this is a morning because birds are chirping, otherwise it would be absurd.

A and D could be absurd if you add only to them ...

(A) I know only girls carry handbags but why should I believe you are a girl just because you are carrying a handbag.

(D) Dogs bark only at strangers but why should I believe that I am a stranger just because the dog is barking at me.

(B) I know roses bloom in winter but why should I believe that this is a rose because its winter.
It's actually opposing the relationships , so it is out.

(E) Apes love nuts, all the nuts are gone why should I believe that the apes have eaten all the nuts.
Also if All the nuts are gone it does not been that Apes have eaten them...not an absurd.

OA pls.

sumanr84: Legendary Member; Posts: 758; Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 9:32 pmFollowed by: 2 members; Location: Bangalore,India; Thanked: 67 times

by sumanr84 » Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:01 pm

This one is really hard, at least for me I can say

If I have to quickly mark an answer ( within 2 mins) I would prefer to mark C. I am assuming 'C' has a misprinting rose for morning. If this is not the case then C won't make any sense and pls don't read below,

C) Birds chirp only in the morning but why should I believe that this is morning because birds are chirping.

Question stem,
I know that this is a tadpole and that all tadpoles turn into frogs,...

If I simply go by the means of controlling modifiers of identical wording, given the strong nature of wording, I would mark C and move on.

mmon: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 105; Joined: Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:07 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 3 times

by mmon » Sat Jan 23, 2010 1:57 pm

IMO C.
"Here I commit the absurdity of simultaneously giving the proof of a conclusion and casting doubt on the conclusion" - absurdity is to diubt the conclusion for which the poof is already.

evidence - birds chirp only in the morning
conclusion - brids achirping so it has to be morning , it would be absurd to question this conclusion.

joseph32: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 303; Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 10:23 am

by joseph32 » Sun May 15, 2016 10:48 pm

A seems to be the best choice here

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