Logical Reasoning

PT126 · S3 · Q15 Theodore will be able to file

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Theodore will be able to file his tax return on time only in the event that he has an accountant prepare his tax return and the accountant does not ask Theodore for any additional documentation of his business expenses.

Evidence

Theodore will be able to file his OT → APR + ~AAD tax return on time only in the event that he has an accountant prepare his tax return and the accountant does not ask Theordore for any additional documentation of his business expenses.

If he does have an accountant APR → AAD prepare his return, the accountant will necessarily ask Theodore to provide this additional documentation.

Conclusion

Therefore, Theodore will not be ~OT able to file on time.

Evaluate

To file his taxes on time Theodore must do two things that cannot both occur, since the second premise states that those two things are incompatible. Therefore, Theodore cannot file his taxes on time.

15.

The pattern of reasoning in which one of the following arguments most closely parallels the pattern of reasoning in the argument above?

  1. Given the demands of Timothy's

    Wrong Structure / Wrong Validity

    Given the demands of Timothy’s job, his next free evening will occur next Friday. He spent a lot of money on his last evening out. He will probably decide to spend his next free evening at home. Therefore, Timothy will probably be at home next Friday evening. This argument is missing an if/then premise that includes “and” after “then.” Furthermore, there is a gap in the reasoning between the evidence and the intermediate conclusion and so this argument is not valid.

    1% picked this

  2. Tovah cannot attend the concert

    Wrong Structure

    Tovah cannot attend the concert AB → ~NW next week if she is away on business. If she misses that concert [next ~NW → ~TM week], she will not have another opportunity to attend a concert this month. She will be away on business. AB Tovah will not be able to attend ~TM a concert this month. This argument is missing an if/then premise that includes “and” after “then.”

    10% picked this

  3. Mark's children will not be

    Wrong Structure

    Mark’s children will not be C → VG content this weekend unless he lets them play video games some of the time. Mark will let them play video VG → ~PA games, but only at times when he has no other activities planned. Therefore, unless Mark and C → ~PA his children take a break from planned activities, Mark’s children will not be content this weekend. This argument is missing an if/then premise that includes “and” after “then.”

    5% picked this

  4. If Teresa is not seated

    Wrong Structure

    If Teresa is not seated in ~FC → BC first class on her airline flight, she will be seated in business class. She cannot be seated in ~FC first class on that flight. Therefore, she will BC necessarily be seated in business class. This argument is missing an if/then premise that includes “and” after “then.”

    2% picked this

  5. Correct

    Susannah will have a relaxing

    Why this is right

    Susannah will have a R → BEW + ~SPM relaxing vacation only if her children behave especially well and she does not start to suspect that they are planning some mischief. She will certainly start to BEW → SPM suspect that they are planning some mischief if they behave especially well. Susannah’s vacation ~R cannot possibly be relaxing. To have a relaxing vacation, Susannah’s children must behave especially well and she must not suspect that they are planning mischief. Since the second premise states that those two things are incompatible, Susannah cannot have a relaxing vacation.

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

    83% picked this

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