Parallel Reasoning Question Review

Parallel Reasoning questions ask you to identify the answer choice that contains
reasoning most similar in structure to the reasoning in the stimulus.
Parallel Flaw questions are Parallel Reasoning questions where the stimulus
contains flawed reasoning.
The question stem for any Parallel question reveals whether the stimulus
contains valid or invalid reasoning. If the question stem mentions a flaw, then
the reasoning is invalid. If the question stem does not mention a flaw, then the
reasoning is valid.
The following elements do not need to be paralleled:
1. Topic of the stimulus
2. The order of presentation of the premises and conclusion in the stimulus
Instead, you must parallel all of these elements:
1. The Method of Reasoning
2. The Validity of the Argument
3. The Conclusion
4. The Premises
Because each element must be matched, you can analyze and attack the answer
choices by testing whether the answer choice under consideration matches
certain elements in the stimulus. If not, the answer is incorrect. The following
list outlines the four tests you can use to evaluate answers, in rough order of
how useful they are:
1. Match the Method of Reasoning
2. Match the Conclusion
3. Match the Premises
4. Match the Validity of the Argument
If all else fails, create a short statement that summarizes the “action” in the
argument. Then, take the abstraction and compare it to each argument. Does it
match your generalized version of the stimulus? If not, the answer is incorrect.