Logical reasoning PrepTest 142 · Section 1 · Question 19

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Valid

Question Type:
Parallel Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
Temp dropped below freezing → Garden impatiens died
Garden impatiens died → not Continue to bloom
Continue to bloom
Therefore: not Temp dropped below freezing

Answer Anticipation:
This Parallel Reasoning question is heavily conditional, so we should diagram out the statements, identify any elements we can use for quick eliminations, and then head to the answer choices. Here, the non-conditional conclusion is the main element we can look for a quick mismatch with, but otherwise the structure is:

A → B
B → C
not C
Therefore: not A

That's a valid argument where two conditionals chain together and the contrapositive is applied to a specific scenario.

Answer Explanation:
Highly adaptable → Thrive in new environment
Thrive in new environment → Adverse effect on species already in that environment
not Adverse effect on species already in that environment
Therefore: not Highly adaptable
This argument follows the same pattern of conditional/non-conditional logic as the stimulus, so it's the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
When a Parallel Reasoning question uses a lot of conditional logic, it can be very time-consuming to diagram it out along with all 5 answer choices. Try to identify elements that can allow for quick eliminations, and also eliminate answers as soon as there's any type of mismatch—don't get bogged down diagramming out something you are already sure is wrong!

Incorrect. The conclusion of this argument is conditional, so it doesn't match with the non-conditional conclusion in the stimulus.

Incorrect. The first statement here is more complex than either premise in the stimulus (with that "only if . . . " added to it), so we can eliminate this answer right out of the gate.

Incorrect. There's only a single conditional premise in this answer's argument, so we can eliminate it.

Incorrect. The conditionals here don't chain together—they jump from whether a species should be introduced to whether a new species is introduced.