Q24 - If the concrete is poured

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Question Type:
Match the Reasoning

Stimulus Breakdown:
Premises:
poured with wet ground → ~ solid foundation
~ solid foundation → settle unevenly OR crack

Conclusion:
~ settle unevenly → ~ poured with wet ground OR crack

Answer Anticipation:
We're not looking for a gap in this argument. In fact, it's valid. We need to understand the logical structure, and eliminate answers that don't match. It might help to focus even more on the structure:
P: A → ~B
P: ~B → C OR D
C: ~C → ~A OR D

Correct Answer:
(A)

Answer Choice Analysis:
(A) This is correct. It matches the structure of the stimulus.

(B) The second premise and the conclusion do not match the stimulus. The first premise in this answer is okay; however, the second premise gives us ~ C OR ~ D → B, and the conclusion is A → C AND D.

(C) This answer contains mismatches in one premise and the conclusion. The second premise in this answer is not a conditional statement, and the conclusion lacks an OR in the necessary condition.

(D) The conclusion in this answer lacks an OR in the necessary condition. There are other mismatches, but this one is easiest to spot.

(E) The second premise in this answer is not a match. If we treat the first premise as A → B, the second premise is C OR D → ~B. Even if we try to force a match using the contrapositive, we still end up with B → ~ C AND ~ D. The AND in the necessary condition doesn't match the stimulus.

Takeaway/Pattern: Match the Reasoning questions often contain conditional logic. Some form of diagramming can make spotting mismatches easier.

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