Parallel The Reasoning Questions

By Abhishek Tomar on Sep 18, 2009 with Comments 0

Sometimes in GMAT exam the question and the passage that comes are based on certain predefine rules. What predefine rules? First, let look at the example

Passage Lines
If you do the home work, I will let you play the games”

RULE
If A, then B
OR
If not B then not A

Simple rules can make the complex passage easy to understand. These type of passage are reasoning base OR cause or effect base. The conclusion (effect or reasoning) is based on premise (Cause or Parallel). By Parallel – the – Reasoning Questions  means that the passage may be reasoning based or may be parallel to the other statements in the passage. This comes with practice. The harder the practice, the better the judgment of the passage type.

How to recognize a Parallel – the – Reasoning Questions

You will find some keywords that inform you about the Parallel – the – Reasoning Questions. Let see some sample Questions

• Which of the following most closely parallels the reasoning used in the argument above ?
• Which of the following supports its conclusion in the same manner as the argument above?
• Which of the following is most like the argument above in its logical structure?

Here how you will crack the Parallel – the – Reasoning Questions

1. Firstly simplify the passage meaning and use A for Premise and B for the conclusion. Now you know that because of the A, B is going to happen.
2. Use POE technique to eliminate the answer choices that are close to the passage meaning but has no relation with the passage premise and conclusion. Means, Choices that may talk about A or B but does not provide any logical answer or relationship with BOTH A and B
3. Verify the answer choice. How? You know that if A happens then B will happen. In other words if not B then not A. BUT wrong choice may include IF ALWAYS A, THEN ALWAYS B. The answer choices can come in any form.