Parallel Reasoning

Parallel Reasoning questions started coming in CET since 2012. There was one question in 2012 and 2 in 2014 based on Parallel
Reasoning. This topic is not known to most of the students as this is fairly new topic in CET.
Parallel Reasoning questions ask you to identify the answer choice that contains reasoning most similar in structure to the
reasoning in the stimulus. Since this task requires you to first identify the method of argumentation used by the author and
then to match that reasoning to the reasoning presented in each answer choice, these questions can be quite time consuming.
Like Method of Reasoning and Flaw in the Reasoning questions, Parallel Reasoning questions are in the First Family and have
the same information structure. However, because of the abstract nature of these questions, comparing the stimulus to the
answer choices takes on a different dimension, and we will address this issue in a moment in the section entitled Solving
Parallel Reasoning Questions.
Question stem examples:
Which one of the following is most closely parallel in its reasoning to the reasoning in the argument above?
Which one of the following exhibits a pattern of reasoning most similar to that exhibited by the argument above?
Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its logical features to the argument above?
Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its pattern of reasoning to the argument above?
The structure of the reasoning in the argument above is most parallel to that in which one of the following?

Practice Questions:

1
If the law punishes littering, then the city has an
obligation to provide trash cans. But the law does
not punish littering, so the city has no such
obligation.
Which one of the following exhibits a flawed pattern
of reasoning most similar to that in the argument
above?
(A) If today is a holiday, then the bakery will not be
open. The bakery is not open for business.
Thus today is a holiday.
(B) Jenny will have lots of balloons at her birthday
party. There are no balloons around yet, so
today is not her birthday.
(C) The new regulations will be successful only if
most of the students adhere to them. Since
most of the students will adhere to those
regulations, the new regulations will be
successful.
(D) In the event that my flight had been late, I
would have missed the committee meeting.
Fortunately, my flight is on time. Therefore, I
will make it to the meeting.
(E) When the law is enforced, some people are
jailed. But no one is in jail. So clearly the law
is not enforced.
2.
People who are good at playing the game Drackedary
are invariably skilled with their hands. Mary is a very
competent watchmaker. Therefore, Mary would make
a good Drackedary player.
The flawed pattern of reasoning in the argument
above is most similar to that in which one of the

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following?
(A) People with long legs make good runners.
Everyone in Daryls family has long legs.
Therefore, Daryl would make a good runner.
(B) People who write for a living invariably enjoy
reading. Julie has been a published novelist
for many years. Therefore, Julie enjoys
reading.
(C) All race car drivers have good reflexes. Chris is
a champion table tennis player. Therefore,
Chris would make a good race car driver.
(D) The role of Santa Claus in a shopping mall is
often played by an experienced actor. Erwin
has played Santa Claus in shopping malls for
years. Therefore, Erwin must be an
experienced actor.
(E) Any good skier can learn to ice-skate
eventually. Erica is a world-class skier.
Therefore, Erica could learn to ice-skate in a
day or two.
3
No one in the French department to which Professor
Alban belongs is allowed to teach more than one
introductory level class in any one term. Moreover,
the only language classes being taught next term are
advanced ones. So it is untrue that both of the French
classes Professor Alban will be teaching next term
will be introductory level classes.
The pattern of reasoning displayed in the argument
above is most closely paralleled by that in which one
of the following arguments?
(A) The Morrison Building will be fully occupied

Parallel Reasoning
by May and since if a building is occupied
by May the new tax rates apply to it, the
Morrison Building will be taxed according to
the new rates.
(B) The revised tax code does not apply at all to
buildings built before 1900, and only the
first section of the revised code applies to
buildings built between 1900 and 1920, so
the revised code does not apply to the Norton
Building, since it was built in 1873.
(C) All property on Overton Road will be
reassessed for tax purposes by the end of the
year and the Elnor Company headquarters is
on Overton Road, so Elnors property taxes
will be higher next year.
(D) New buildings that include public space are
exempt from city taxes for two years and all
new buildings in the citys Alton district are
exempt for five years, so the building with
the large public space that was recently
completed in Alton will not be subject to city
taxes next year.
(E) Since according to recent statute, a building
that is exempt from property taxes is charged
for city water at a special rate, and hospitals
are exempt from property taxes, Founders
Hospital will be charged for city water at the
special rate.

4.
An independent audit found no indication of tax
avoidance on the part of the firm in the firms
accounts; therefore, no such problem exists.
The questionable reasoning in the argument above is
most closely paralleled by that in which one of the
following?
(A) The plan for the introduction of the new
product has been unmodified so far;
therefore, it will not be modified in the
future.
(B) The overall budget for the projects has been
exceeded by a large amount; therefore, at
least one of the projects has exceeded its
budget by a large amount.
(C) A compilation of the best student essays of the
year includes no essays on current events;
therefore, students have become apathetic
toward current events.
(D) A survey of schools in the district found no
school without a need for building repair;
therefore, the education provided to students
in the district is substandard.
(E) An examination of the index of the book found
no listing for the most prominent critic of the
theory the book advocates; therefore, the
book fails to refer to that critic.

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5
The student body at this university takes courses in a
wide range of disciplines. Miriam is a student at this
university, so she takes courses in a wide range of
disciplines.
Which one of the following arguments exhibits
flawed reasoning most similar to that exhibited by
the argument above?
(A) The students at this school take mathematics.
Miguel is a student at this school, so he takes
mathematics.
(B) The editorial board of this law journal has
written on many legal issues. Louise is on the
editorial board, so she has written on many
legal issues.
(C) The component parts of bulldozers are heavy.
This machine is a bulldozer, so it is heavy.
(D) All older automobiles need frequent oil
changes. This car is new, so its oil need not
be changed as frequently.
(E) The individual cells of the brain are incapable
of thinking. Therefore, the brain as a whole is
incapable of thinking.

6
Commentator: Because of teacher hiring freezes,
the quality of education in that country will not
improve. Thus, it will surely deteriorate.
The flawed reasoning in which one of the following
is most similar to that in the commentators
argument?
(A) Because Raoul is a vegetarian, he will not have
the pepperoni pizza for lunch. It follows that
he will have the cheese pizza.
(B) Given that over 250 years of attempts to prove
the Goldbach conjecture have failed, it will
probably never be proved. Hence, it is more
likely to be disproved than proved.
(C) Since funding levels for social programs are
being frozen, our society will not become
more harmonious. Thus, it may become more
discordant.
(D) Since there is a storm moving in, the outside
temperature cannot rise this afternoon.
Therefore, it must fall.
(E) The starter in Marys car gave out weeks ago,
and so it is impossible for the car to start.
Therefore, it will not start.

7.
Most people who shop for groceries no more than
three times a month buy prepared frozen dinners
regularly. In Hallstown most people shop for
groceries no more than three times a month.
Therefore, in Hallstown most people buy prepared

Parallel Reasoning
frozen dinners regularly.
Which one of the following arguments has a flawed
pattern of reasoning most like the flawed reasoning
in the argument above?
(A) It is clear that most drivers in West Ansland are
safe drivers since there are very few driving
accidents in West Ansland and most
accidents there are not serious.
(B) It is clear that John cannot drive, since he does
not own a car and no one in his family who
does not own a car can drive.
(C) It is clear that Fernandos friends usually drive
to school, since all of his friends can drive
and all of his friends go to school.
(D) It is clear that most people in Highland County
drive sedans, since most people who
commute to work drive sedans and most
people in Highland County commute to
work.
(E) It is clear that most of Janines friends are good
drivers, since she accepts rides only from
good drivers and she accepts rides from most
of her friends.

8.
Bank deposits are credited on the date of the
transaction only when they are made before 3 P.M.
Alicia knows that the bank deposit was made before
3 P.M. So, Alicia knows that the bank deposit was
credited on the date of the transaction.
Which one of the following exhibits both of the
logical flaws exhibited by the argument above?
(A) Journalists are the only ones who will be
permitted to ask questions at the press
conference. Since Marjorie is a journalist, she
will be permitted to ask questions.
(B) We know that Patrice works only on Thursday.
Today is Thursday, so it follows that Patrice
is working today.
(C) It is clear that George knows he will be
promoted to shift supervisor, because George
will be promoted to shift supervisor only if
Helen resigns, and George knows Helen will
resign.
(D) John believes that 4 is a prime number and that
4 is divisible by 2. Hence John believes that
there is a prime number divisible by 2.
(E) Pat wants to become a social worker. It is well
known that social workers are poorly paid.
Pat apparently wants to be poorly paid.
9
Humankind would not have survived, as it clearly has, if
our ancestors had not been motivated by the desire to
sacrifice themselves when doing so would ensure the
survival of their children or other close relatives. But since

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even this kind of sacrifice is a form of altruism, it follows

that our ancestors were at least partially altruistic.
Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its
reasoning to the argument?
A Students do not raise their grades if they do not increase
the amount of time they spend studying. Increased study
time requires good time management. However, some
students do raise their grades. So some students manage
their time well.
B Organisms are capable of manufacturing their own
carbohydrate supply if they do not consume other
organisms to obtain it. So plants that consume insects
must be incapable of photosynthesis, the means by which
most plants produce their carbohydrate supplies.
C If fragile ecosystems are not protected by government
action their endemic species will perish, for endemic
species are by definition those that exist nowhere else but
in those ecosystems.
D The natural resources used by human beings will be
depleted if they are not replaced by alternative materials.
But since such replacement generally requires more
power, the resources used to create that power will
become depleted.
E Public buildings do not harmonize with their
surroundings if they are not well designed. But any welldesigned building is expensive to construct. Thus, either
public buildings are expensive to construct or else they do
not harmonize with their surroundings.

10.
Inflation rates will not stabilize unless the rate of economic
growth decreases. Yet in order to slow the economy. the
full cooperation of world leaders will be required. Thus, it
would be overly optimistic to expect stable inflation rates
in the near future.
Which one of the following is most closely parallel in its
reasoning to the reasoning in the argument above?
(A) If factory safety is a serious concern, each employee
must report potentially hazardous situations. Only with full
employee participation in the safety program will these
hazards be corrected and accidents be prevented. Thus.
without everyone's cooperation we cannot expect
improved factory safety.
(B) If the board is serious about improving management
efficiency. it must eliminate organizational redundancy.
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to eliminate wasteful
redundancy without dismissing a number of senior
employees. Thus, no option is available but to dismiss
some senior employees.

Parallel Reasoning
(C) Only if we thoroughly examine all options will we be
able to arrive at the optimal decision. Such a thorough
examination, however, will necessitate a delay in the
presentation of our proposal. Therefore, we will be able to
arrive at an optimal decision only if we delay the
presentation of our proposal.
(D) If we are to produce the safest vehicles possible. we
must conduct objective structural tests. However, the
performance of such objective tests will inevitably result in
huge cost overruns. It is therefore unavoidable that the
level of vehicle safety will not be optimal.
(E) If honesty is the best policy, we should report our
company's poor performance in the last year. But if we do
so, we will put our jobs at risk and our stockholders will
complain. Therefore, we must not report our poor
performance.

11.
All Labrador retrievers bark a great deal. All Saint Bemards
bark infrequently. Each of Rosa's dogs is a cross between a
Labrador retriever and a Saint Bernard. Therefore, Rosa's
dogs are moderate barkers.
Which one of the following uses flawed reasoning that
most closely resembles the flawed reasoning used in the
argument above?
(A) All students who study diligently make good grades.
But some students who do not study diligently also make
good grades. Jane studies somewhat diligently. Therefore,
Jane makes somewhat good grades.
(B) All type A chemicals are extremely toxic to human
beings. All type B chemicals are nontoxic to human beings.
This household cleaner is a mixture of a type A chemical
and a type B chemical. Therefore, this household cleaner is
moderately toxic.
(C) All students at Hanson School live in Green County. All
students at Edwards School live in Winn County. Members
of the Perry family attend both Hanson and Edwards.
Therefore, some members of the Perry family live in Green
County and some live in Winn County.
(D) All transcriptionists know shorthand. All engineers
know calculus. Bob has worked both as a transcriptionist
and as an engineer. Therefore, Bob knows both shorthand
and calculus.
(E) All of Kenisha's dresses are very well made. All of
Connie's dresses are very badly made. Half of the dresses
in this closet are very well made, and half of them are very
badly made. Therefore, half of the dresses in this closet
are Kenisha's and half of them are Connie's.

12.
Suppose I have promised to keep a confidence and
someone asks me a question that I cannot answer
truthfully without thereby breaking the promise.

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Obviously, I cannot both keep and break the same

promise. Therefore, one cannot be obliged both to answer
all questions truthfully and to keep all promises.
Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its
reasoning to the argument above?
(A) It is claimed that we have the unencumbered right to
say whatever we want. It is also claimed that we have the
obligation to be civil to others. But civility requires that we
not always say what we want. So, it cannot be true both
that we have the unencumbered right to say whatever we
want and that we have the duty to be civil.
(B) Some politicians could attain popularity with voters
only by making extravagant promises; this, however,
would deceive the people. So, since the only way for some
politicians to be popular is to deceive, and any politician
needs to be popular, it follows that some politicians must
deceive.
(C) If we put a lot of effort into making this report look
good, the client might think we did so because we
believed our proposal would not stand on its own merits.
On the other hand, if we do not try to make the report
look good, the client might think we are not serious about
her business. So, whatever we do, we risk her criticism.
(D) If creditors have legitimate claims against a business
and the business has the resources to pay those debts,
then the business is obliged to pay them. Also, if a
business has obligations to pay debts, then a court will
force it to pay them. But the courts did not force this
business to pay its debts, so either the creditors did not
have legitimate claims or the business did not have
sufficient resources.
(E) If we extend our business hours, we will either have to
hire new employees or have existing employees work
overtime. But both new employees and additional
overtime would dramatically increase our labor costs. We
cannot afford to increase labor costs, so we will have to
keep our business hours as they stand.

13.
We should accept the proposal to demolish the old train
station, because the local historical society, which
vehemently opposes this, is dominated by people who
have no commitment to long-term economic well-being.
Preserving old buildings creates an impediment to new
development, which is critical to economic health.
The flawed reasoning exhibited by the argument above is
most similar to that exhibited by which one of the
following arguments?
(A) Our country should attempt to safeguard works of art
that it deems to possess national cultural significance.
These works might not be recognized as such by all
taxpayers, or even all critics. Nevertheless, our country

Parallel Reasoning
ought to expend whatever money is needed to procure all
such works as they become available.
(B) Documents of importance to local heritage should be
properly preserved and archived for the sake of future
generations. For, if even one of these documents is
damaged or lost, the integrity of the historical record as a
whole will be damaged.
(C) You should have your hair cut no more than once a
month. After all, beauticians suggest that their customers
have their hair cut twice a month, and they do this as a
way of generating more business for themselves.

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(D) The committee should endorse the plan to postpone

construction of the new expressway. Many residents of
the neighborhoods that would be affected are fervently
opposed to that construction, and the committee is
obligated to avoid alienating those residents.
(E) One should not borrow even small amounts of money
unless it is absolutely necessary. Once one borrows a few
dollars, the interest starts to accumulate. The longer one
takes to repay, the more one ends up owing, and
eventually a small debt has become a large one.

Parallel Reasoning
Solutions
1
Answer choice (A): This answer choice contains a Mistaken
Reversal.
Answer choice (B): This answer choice contains a
contrapositive.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice contains a Mistaken
Reversal.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer, and the
relationship
Answer choice (E): This answer choice contains a
contrapositive.
2
Answer choices (A) and (C) have conclusion components
would
makethat are identical to the stimulus, so they both
remain as
Contenders.
Answer choice (B) contains a conclusion with no wording
similar to
would make, so we eliminate this answer for now. We
can always
reconsider the answer if none of the others pan out.
Answer choice (D) contains an elementmustthat is
significantly
different than would make, so we also eliminate this
answer.
Answer choice (E) can be eliminated since the operating
element in the
conclusioncouldis not the same as would make.

3
Answer choice (A): This answer contains a conditional
Repeat form, and as
such, the two premises work together. Since the structure
of the answer is
different than that of the stimulus, the answer choice is
incorrect.
Answer choice (B): Only the first premise in this answer
choice proves the
conclusion; the second premise is irrelevant to the
conclusion. Therefore, this
answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): There are two excellent reasons to
eliminate this answer
choice:
1. The answer choice contains invalid reasoning.
2. The two premises work together and are not
independent as in the
stimulus.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer. As with the
argument in the
stimulus, each premise in this answer choice separately
supports the conclusion.

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Answer choice (E): This answer is very similar to answer

choice (A), and
contains a valid form of reasoning based on the Repeat
form. Since the two
premises work together and neither proves the conclusion
alone, this answer
choice is incorrect.
4.
Answer choice (A): Does this answer match our short
description of the
stimulus? No, this answer is about no changes from the
past translate into no
changes in the future. There is no element of searching
and not finding.
Answer choice (B): Again, quickly, does this answer match
our short
description of the stimulus? No, this answer is about cost
overruns on projects.
Answer choice (C): this answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (D):, this answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice.

5.
The correct answer choice is (B)
The stimulus in this problem exhibits an error of division,
where the attributes of the whole are taken to
apply to each part of the whole. In this case, the whole is
the university student body, and the part is
Miriam. You must find an answer that contains a similar
whole-to-part error of division.
As you attack the answers, it becomes apparent that
answer choices (A) and (B) are Contenders and
answer choices (C), (D), and (E) are Losers. We will first
analyze (C), (D), and (E):
Answer choice (C): Unlike the stimulus, this answer choice
contains valid reasoning and is therefore
incorrect. If that fact escaped you during your analysis, this
answer choice also reverses the relationship,
moving from part to whole (the stimulus moves from
whole to part).
Answer choice (D): This answer contains a Mistaken
Negation, not an error of division.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice contains an error of
composition, where the attributes of the parts
are mistaken for the attributes of the whole. This part-towhole error is the reverse of the error in the
stimulus.
6.
The correct answer choice is (D)
The commentators argument is short and simple:
Premise: [There are] teacher hiring freezes.
Subconclusion/
Premise: The quality of education in that country will not
improve.
Conclusion: Thus, it will surely deteriorate.

Parallel Reasoning
7.
The correct answer choice is (D)
The structure of the argument is very distinct: the two
premises and conclusion each contain the quantity
indicator most. That structure must be paralleled in the
correct answer choice, and you would be wise to
immediately check the answers upon recognizing the triple
most formation. Let us do so now:
Answer choice (A): The second line of the answer choice
contains the phrase very few. Since this is
different than most, this answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): The answer choice contains the phrases
cannot and no one, both of which are
different than most.
Answer choice (C): The phrase usually is a synonym for
most, but the two all statements are
different enough to make this answer choice suspect.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer, and the only
one with three mosts.
Answer choice (E): The second line contains a conditional
premise (introduced by only). Since the
argument does not contain a similar premise, this answer
is incorrect.
8.
The correct answer choice is (C)
Although most students recognize the Mistaken Reversal,
they make the error of quickly glancing at the
question stem, and when they see the word exhibits
they move to the answers without realizing there is a
second flaw. Although this action is not problematic
because the correct answer will contain a Mistaken
Reversal, the danger is that a student will select the first
Mistaken Reversal that appears without examining
the second flaw, and indeed, about half of the test takers
erroneously choose answer choice (A) or (B),
with answer choice (B) being the more popular of the two.
A student considering each answer would
recognize that answer choices (A), (B), and (C) contain
Mistaken Reversals and thus there must be an
additional differentiating factor.
We will dispense with answer choices (D) and (E) because
they both contain the Repeat conditional form.
In order to decide between answer choices (A), (B), and
(C), we must re-examine the stimulus and
discover the second error, or at least discover a factor that
will allow us to choose one of the remaining
three answers. Look carefully at the stimulus: did Alicia
make the deposit herself or does she just know that
the deposit was made and the transaction credited? As
stated in the stimulus, she only knows the events
occurred, not that they actually happened for certain. This
is the second error, and a quick examination of
the three remaining answers reveals that only answer
choice (C) contains the same flaw of knowing.
Answer choice (C) is therefore correct.
Although the double error language appears

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9
Now look at the conclusions of each answer choice.
(A) says some students manage their time well.
(B) says that plants that consume insects are incapable of
photosynthesis.
(C) says that if fragile ecosystems are not protected by
government action, their endemic species will perish.
(D) says that the resources used to create that power will
become depleted.
(E) says that either public buildings are expensive or to
construct or they do not harmonize with their
surroundings.
The weakness in the conclusion is best mimicked in answer
choice (A). Also, answer choice (A) follows the linking
pattern found in the stimulus.
One cannot do x, without also doing y. Y has some
characteristic z. Therefore, to do x one must be able to do
z.
If you need any of the incorrect answers explained more
extensively, please let me know!
10.
A) Factory Safety serious concern ---> Each employee must
report hazardous situation
Hazards corrected and accidents prevented ---> Full
employee participation in Safety Program
B) Serious Improving ---> Eliminate ---> Dismissing senior
employees. Therefore, no option available but to eliminate
senior employees.
C) Able to arrive at the optimal decision---> Examine all
options ---> Delay in presentation of proposal
Therefore, Able to arrive at the optimal decision ---> Delay
in presentation of proposal
D) Produce safest vehicles possible ---> Must conduct
objective structural tests ---> Huge cost overruns
Therefore, unavoidable that level of safety will not be
optimal. In other words, not the safest vehicles possible.
This does not fit perfectly in the conclusion, but it is the
best we have seen so far. We will keep it.
E) Honest best policy ---> Should report company's poor
performance in the last year ---> Jobs at risk and
stockholders will complain.
Therefore, must not report. This is close, but it does not
revert back to our initial sufficient condition. The
conclusion is also stronger than the original stimulus, just
as choice D was, however D fits the bill better than the
others with its premise connections and which variable is
mentioned in the conclusion.

11

Parallel Reasoning
(A) Has 1. but when we come to 2. we have Some
students not all students as would be required to
match our structure. Also the last element is mixed up and
not the same as the structure we are looking to parallel. As
soon as you determine that the answer choice is missing
elements or does not match the structure, move on.
However, for extra practice lets break down the structure
of this answer choice. The structure of this answer choice
could be presented as follows:
(B) This is the correct answer. It matches each of the
elements in our structure above. We have and entity (type
A) with a strong trait (toxic) an entity (type B) with a weak
trait (not toxic) and finally a specific example that is part of
both entities which must therefore have a moderate trait.
(C) This one is very close but not quite right. We have our
first two elements and half of our third element, however,
the conclusion is that they live either in one or the other
place as opposed to being in between the two places
(similar to being in between a frequent and infrequent
barker in the argument). If this answer concluded that
they live in between the two counties it would be closer to
the correct answer.
(D) This comes close to satisfying our elements but what
we are looking for is entities that have a strong and weak
showing of the same trait (e.g. barking) as opposed to
having two totally different traits (e.g. calculus and
shorthand).
(E) This has the first two elements satisfied but then does
not match the third element of our structure. If it had
ended with Both Connie and Kenisha helped make this
dress therefore it is moderately well made it would be a
much better answer choice.
12.
There are two promises:
A. Keep the secret
B. Tell the truth
But, if you are asked the question, you can either keep the
secret and lie (break Promise B) or tell the truth but break
the confidence (break Promise A). So you have to break
ONE of these necessarily.
Answer C follows the same logic. We have:
A. Right to say what we want
B. Obligation to be civil.
But if you say what you want then you won't be civil
(Break B) or you can be civil but then can't say what you
want (Break A). So you have to break ONE of these
necessarily.

13.
The main reason given for accepting the proposal is
suspicion of the other sides (the historical societys)
motives in opposing the proposal. We want to choose an
answer that uses the same flimsy reasoning. Answer (C)
does this. The reason given for suggesting that one should

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have no more than one haircut per month is suspicion of

the beauticians suggestion that one should have two cuts
per month.
(A) is tempting because it mentions parties that oppose
the main conclusion, but it does not use suspicion of the
oppositions motives in order to justify the conclusion that
significant works of art should be safeguarded.
(B) does not mention any opposition to the main
conclusion.
(D) does not mention any opposition to the main
conclusion (the residents are in favor of postponing the
construction).
(E) does not mention any opposition to the main
conclusion.