PrepTest 138

Incorrect. The first premise here relies on "[s]ome studies" so it's different from the stimulus. It also compares doing something to not doing it, which is different than comparing two different options. Two reasons to eliminate this in the first sentence.

Incorrect. The first premise here doesn't compare two options, so it's not parallel.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Valid

Question Type:
Parallel Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
A fish-based diet is healthier than a red meat-based one, but everyone eating fish would drive most fish to extinction, so we shouldn't recommend everyone switch.

Answer Anticipation:
This argument doesn't feature conditional logic or a common method of reasoning, so we'll have to focus on the individual statements and their connection.

The argument starts with a comparison between two things, highlighting one (fish) as better on a certain metric (health). It then brings up that switching to that "better" option would result in it eventually no longer being an option, and so it recommends against having everyone make that switch.

The correct answer should follow the same pattern: a comparison that one option is better than another, but that option becomes self-defeating if everyone does it, so not everyone should do it.

Answer Explanation:
The first premise here has an implicit comparison—saving money is better than spending it all. It then goes on to noting that this can be self-defeating, however, as if everyone follows that advice, investing would be "impossible" for most. It then concludes a recommendation against the better option. This answer is parallel to the argument in the stimulus!

Key Takeaway:
When an argument in a Parallel Reasoning question doesn't feature conditional logic or a common method of reasoning, you'll have to break down the argument to see how it proceeds and how the argument holds together, and then find an answer that has the same parts and connections. This is more difficult than when there's conditional logic or a common pattern of reasoning, though, so slow yourself down and be sure to work through it efficiently.

Incorrect. This argument has conditional statements, making it based on a fundamentally different type of logic from the stimulus.

Incorrect. Similar to (D) (and (A)), this answer brings up a conditional statement, highlighting the difference between doing and not doing something, so it's not parallel.