Logical reasoning PrepTest 150 · Section 3 · Question 23

Incorrect. The conclusion here is too strong. The stimulus concludes something is unlikely, whereas this answer choice states that something can never happen.

Incorrect. The premise here doesn't establish that the two "things" in the conclusion have requirements, or that those requirements are usually not found together.

Incorrect. The conclusion here is too strong. The stimulus concludes something is unlikely, whereas this answer choice states that something cannot happen.

Incorrect. While this answer is in the ballpark, since it doesn't set up two separate things that have requirements that are rarely found together, it's missing a key element. To make it abstract as in the anticipation section: One thing is listed as having a certain skill, and that skill is rare, so the thing is unlikely.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Valid

Question Type:
Parallel Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
Short story writing requires weaving together small details. Novel writing requires focusing on larger details. Few writers can do both, so good short story writers are unlikely to be good novelists.

Answer Anticipation:
Two things will be listed as needing a certain skill or criteria, and those criteria will be established to be rare together, so the things will also be unlikely to happen together.

Answer Explanation:
It's a match! Each sport is established as requiring different skills, and those skills are set as being rare together, so it's unlikely one person will be good at the two sports.

Key Takeaway:
Look for certainty words in the stimulus of a Parallel Reasoning question. The correct answer will generally match those words, even if the topic changes drastically.