Explanation

Thank you for your question. This Logical Reasoning stimulus reasons along these lines: (1) there is a correlation between popular uprisings & near-max sunspot activity (in certain years, there were both popular uprisings and near-max sunspot activity); (2) when there is heavy sunspot activity, there is a sharp rise in positively charged ions in the air we breathe; and (3) positively charged ions are known to cause people to be anxious and irritable. Thus, (4) sunspot activity is likely a factor in triggering popular uprisings. Answer choice (E) follows the same reasoning structure, as follows: (1) there is a correlation between the quality of being among Acme's most productive managers and occupying a corner office, which has more windows; (2) more windows means more natural light; (3) more natural light means more alertness; (4) so more productivity is at least in part due to working in a corner office. Answer choice (C), by contrast, is an example of a conclusion drawn when the author just reversed her premises. You can't do this. She reasons as follows: (1) When cold, more fuel used C ==>  F+; (2) when more fuel used, prices rise F+ ==>  P+. Now, these premises would support a transitive conclusion that when it is cold, prices rise. But the conclusion drawn here is backwards: when prices rise, it's because of cold weather. P+ ==>  C. Hope this helps. Let us know if you have any more questions.

Thank you for your question. This Logical Reasoning stimulus reasons along these lines: (1) there is a correlation between popular uprisings & near-max sunspot activity (in certain years, there were both popular uprisings and near-max sunspot activity); (2) when there is heavy sunspot activity, there is a sharp rise in positively charged ions in the air we breathe; and (3) positively charged ions are known to cause people to be anxious and irritable. Thus, (4) sunspot activity is likely a factor in triggering popular uprisings. Answer choice (E) follows the same reasoning structure, as follows: (1) there is a correlation between the quality of being among Acme's most productive managers and occupying a corner office, which has more windows; (2) more windows means more natural light; (3) more natural light means more alertness; (4) so more productivity is at least in part due to working in a corner office. Answer choice (C), by contrast, is an example of a conclusion drawn when the author just reversed her premises. You can't do this. She reasons as follows: (1) When cold, more fuel used C ==> F+; (2) when more fuel used, prices rise F+ ==> P+. Now, these premises would support a transitive conclusion that when it is cold, prices rise. But the conclusion drawn here is backwards: when prices rise, it's because of cold weather. P+ ==> C. Hope this helps. Let us know if you have any more questions.