Logical Reasoning

PT138 · S4 · Q2 All the books in the library

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All the books in the library have their proper shelf locations recorded in the catalog.

Conclusion

The book Horatio wants was either misplaced or stolen.

Evidence

Horatio wants a book but can't find it in its proper place on the shelves. No one in the library is using it. It's not checked out to anyone nor is it waiting to be shelved or in an unusual place because it's part of a special display.

Evaluate

Method questions tend to pull from a pretty consistent list of moves

Analogy

Rules Out Competing Options

Implications of Logic

Make a Distinction

Alternate Explanation for a phenomenon

(Counter)example to a General Principle

Point Out Dubious Assumption

Raise an Overlooked Consideration

In this argument, the author rules out a lot of competing alternatives to arrive at the two remaining possibilities: misplaced or stolen.

Goal

Look for something like "considers and rejects other explanations" or "rules out competing alternatives".

2.

Which one of the following most accurately describes the method of reasoning used in the argument?

  1. An observation about one object

    Bad Conclusion Match

    This is not a general conclusion regarding similar objects. The conclusion is specifically about the book Horatio is looking for.

    2% picked this

  2. A deficiency in a system

    Bad Conclusion Match

    This accuses the conclusion of "isolating a deficiency in a system". That's a bad match for "His book was either misplaced or stolen". And the evidence certainly doesn't address the library failing to control for anti-theft or anti-misplacement.

    3% picked this

  3. A conclusion about a particular

    Bad Conclusion / Evidence Match

    The conclusion here is not rebutting anyone else's claim. It is the author arriving at last of her remaining hypotheses. Also, the evidence never says "most books that can't be found are X, but that's not the case here".

    2% picked this

  4. A generalization is rejected by

    Bad Conclusion Match

    The conclusion is not rejecting a generalization. It's arriving at two final hypotheses to explain a specific phenomenon.

    1% picked this

  5. Correct

    The conclusion is supported by

    Why this is right

    It's an observed fact that the book Horatio is looking for is not on the shelf. The author arrives at her final two hypotheses (misplaced / stolen) by ruling out a lot of alternative explanations (checked out, on display, waiting to be shelved).

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

    92% picked this

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