Logical Reasoning

PT118 · S1 · Q9 The use of phrases like

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The use of phrases like “as so-and-so said” or “as the saying goes” suggests that the quote that follows has just been illustrated.

Principle (when)

an apparent counterex → inappropriate to use has just been given saying like "as they say"

Evaluate

The right answer must contain a story whose events run against the saying that follows — i.e., the saying does not actually fit what just happened, so the introductory phrase ("as the saying goes") is being used inappropriately.

Goal

Find the choice where the situation described is the opposite (or at least not an example) of the saying that follows it.

9.

Which one of the following contains an inappropriate usage of a phrase, according to the principle stated above?

  1. Fatima was a mathematician who

    Saying Fits

    Fatima dwells on how much there is left to know. The saying, "Strange how much you've got to know before you know how little you know" fits her situation: a thoughtful person realizing how vast unsolved territory is. The phrase is used appropriately.

    4% picked this

  2. Harold’s friends were surprised when

    Saying Fits

    Harold repeatedly forgets his wallet and asks friends for money. The saying calls selfishness inevitable and calculable, like gravity. The story illustrates that point: Harold's selfishness is reliable, predictable behavior.

    6% picked this

  3. The best model of vacuum

    Saying Fits

    Roger refuses to spend on the most expensive vacuum because he is frugal. The saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned", celebrates frugality, which fits Roger's behavior.

    4% picked this

  4. Sharon loved cats, but her

    Saying Fits

    Sharon loves cats; her husband does not but accompanies her anyway. The saying "Shared lives mean shared loves" fits; the husband is taking on her interest because they share a life. The phrase is used appropriately.

    3% picked this

  5. Correct

    Raoul spent a year planning

    Why this is right

    Raoul's trip did not end well! He broke his leg and spent two weeks in the hospital. So the saying "All's well that ends well" is exactly the wrong proverb to invoke here; Raoul's story is a counterexample to the saying, not an illustration of it. Since his story is a counterexample to the saying, according to the principle, it was inappropriate to use "as the saying goes".

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

    83% picked this

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