PrepTest 148, Section 1, Question 14
In order for life to exist on the(28 more words not shown)
The pattern of reasoning in(15 more words not shown)
- AA company must(36 more words not shown)
- BThe fact that(52 more words not shown)
- COil companies are(31 more words not shown)
- DThe price of(29 more words not shown)
- EThe exports of(24 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
This argument works if we accept its rule. Life on P23 requires water on the surface. The planet lacks that required water, so it cannot have life.
What we’re looking for
For the parallel, keep track of what is needed and what is missing. We want another argument in which a necessary part of a situation is absent, so the situation itself is ruled out. We don't need the same topic, but we do need that relationship.
Working the answers
- A
Success requires efficient employees, but knowledgeable and hardworking employees are only offered as one probable way to get efficiency. Other employees might be efficient too. A wrongly turns that possible route into something success requires. It also never gives us a particular company missing a requirement and therefore unable to succeed. The original correctly rules out life because a stated requirement is absent.
- B
This offers a possible innocent explanation for the suspect being flustered: surprise at being questioned. It uses that alternative to conclude that nervousness need not indicate guilt. That is different from identifying a condition required for guilt, establishing that the condition is absent, and therefore ruling out guilt. B makes a point about what the observed behavior may mean, not the absence of a required condition.
- CCorrect
Planning to increase drilling corresponds to life on P23; buying new equipment corresponds to surface water. If the companies planned to increase drilling, they would be buying that equipment, so the purchase is required for the plan. But they aren't buying it. Therefore, they aren't planning the increase. C states the missing requirement before stating the rule, but the relationships match exactly.
- D
This observes rising real-estate prices and uses them to conclude that the economy is improving. But other things could raise prices. It would be like saying life requires surface water, finding water, and concluding that life exists. The original does the reliable move in the other direction: a requirement is missing, so the thing requiring it is absent.
- E
This is valid, but it applies the rule differently. Decreased exports lead to a larger trade deficit; exports have decreased; therefore, the deficit has increased. It starts with the condition that brings about a result and derives that result. The original starts with the absence of something required and uses that absence to rule out life. Validity alone doesn't make the two patterns the same.
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