Logical reasoning PrepTest 126 · Section 3 · Question 15

Question prompt

Theodore will be able Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: E

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Argument or Facts

Argument

Valid or Flawed

Flawed

Question Type

Parallel Reasoning Questions

Stimulus Summary

Teddy files taxes on time → Hire accountant AND ~Accountant asks for extra docs
Hire accountant → Accountant asks for extra docs
Therefore - ~Teddy files taxes on time

Answer Anticipation

This Parallel Reasoning question features conditional logic, so we should focus on our diagram.
Here, we end up with a conditional premise with an AND necessary condition, a second conditional premise that establishes the two necessary conditions are mutually exclusive, and a conclusion that the sufficient condition of the original premise is therefore not going to happen:
A → B AND ~C
B → C
Therefore - ~C
Note that this is a valid argument - if B and ~C are both required for something to happen, but B → C (and therefore ~C guarantees ~B), then you can’t have both B and ~C, and thus you can’t meet the necessary condition.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Given the demands of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    There’s no conditional here with an AND necessary condition, so we can eliminate this answer without diagramming it out. It also has a “probably” in the conclusion that doesn’t match up with the stimulus.
  2. B
    Tovah cannot attend the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    There’s no conditional here with an AND necessary condition, so we can eliminate this answer without diagramming it out.
  3. C
    Mark's children will not Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    There’s no conditional here with an AND necessary condition, so we can eliminate this answer without diagramming it out.
  4. D
    If Teresa is not Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    There’s no conditional here with an AND necessary condition, so we can eliminate this answer without diagramming it out. Additionally, there’s only one conditional premise (the second is a non-conditional statement), which doesn’t align with the stimulus.
  5. E
    Susannah will have a Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E matches the stem
    Susannah relaxes on vacation → Kids behave especially well AND ~Suspects they’re up to something

    Kids behave especially well → Suspects they’re up to something

    Therefore - ~Susannah relaxes on vacation

    This argument follows the same structure as the stimulus, with two necessary conditions being established as mutually exclusive to rule out the possibility of a sufficient condition, so it's the correct answer.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 3%
  2. B 11%
  3. C 5%
  4. D 3%
  5. E Credited 78%

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