The average cost of groceries

Answer choices

1. A

   Bad Conclusion Match7% picked this

   The price of gasoline has been rising each month for the past year. Therefore, we can expect to pay

   This doesn't go from "average price of gas" to a specific price of gas scenario. If the conclusion said something like, "Therefore, I can expect to pay more for gas at my local station next month." that would be closer to the original.

   7%
2. B

   Bad Evidence Match0% picked this

   Either the government will reduce taxes or the economy will fall into a recession. The government is unlikely to reduce taxes. Therefore, the

   The either/or claim right out of the gate makes us want to bail from this one. The flaw this argument commits is simply Probable vs. Certain. Of the two possible options, one is more likely. But the author concludes with certainty that it will happen.

   0%
3. C

   Correct81% picked this

   The average amount of time spent by people younger than 20 in watching television has recently risen rapidly. Therefore, the amount of time fourth

   Why this is right

   The premise is an average for a big group of things (people under 20). And the conclusion applies that same average idea to a small subset of that group (4th graders). It moves from Whole to Part. Because the trait "watch more tv recently" applies to the Whole, the trait "watch more tv recently" must also apply to each Part.

   Skill tested: Parallel Flaw · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   81%
4. D

   Topic Trap Valid Logic10% picked this

   Since sugar is a major ingredient in ice cream, the price of ice cream increases whenever the price of sugar increases. The price of

   Back to the grocery store! Beware on parallel questions when it feels like an answer choice is trying to feel similar by being nearby the original topic. This is valid logic, not a Whole to Part assumption. They give us a conditional rule that says "when price of sugar goes up, price of ice cream goes up", so the logic here is sound.

   10%
5. E

   Valid Logic2% picked this

   Real estate prices go down when the population of those from 20 to 30 years old declines, and the number in that age group

   Just like choice (D), this provides us with a conditional rule (When population of 20-30 years olds goes down, real estate prices go down), which allows the author to validly draw her conclusion.

   2%