3.12 - Parallel Principle

Next we're talking Parallel Principles.

Recall from earlier these questions are equal parts Principle and Parallel Reasoning. You'll read an argument or set of circumstance and then have to find an underlying principle from the passage.

Not to mention, these are always 100% predictable. Explain the argument or circumstances to yourself. Think about what principle's at play here. There's your prediction.

Parallel Principles tend to look like this:

• Which one of the following conforms most closely to the principle illustrated in the passage?
• The principle underlying the philosopher's argument is most similar to the principle underlying which one of the following?

Let's try some practice questions.

Examples

June 2007 PrepTest, Section 2, Question 24

Let's look at Question 24 from Test J, Section 2:

Car companies solicit consumer information on such human factors as whether a seat is comfortable or whether a set of controls is easy to use. However, designer interaction with consumers is superior to survey data; the data may tell the designer why a feature on last year's model was given a low rating, but data will not explain how that feature needs to be changed in order to receive a higher rating.

Cool story—seems like the author believes that designers getting into the weeds with consumers can produce better products than with survey data alone. That's my prediction anyway.

The question asks us which answer choice conforms most closely to the reasoning in the passage.

Sure enough, predicting paid dividends. Answer choice A is a near verbatim match. Check out the link above if you're looking for a more in-depth explanation.

June 2007 PrepTest, Section 3, Question 14

Next, here's Question 14 from Test J, Section 3:

Commentator: In academic scholarship, sources are always cited, and methodology and theoretical assumptions are set out, so as to allow critical study, replication, and expansion of scholarship. In open-source software, the code in which the program is written can be viewed and modified by individual users for their purposes without getting permission from the producer or paying a fee. In contrast, the code of proprietary software is kept secret, and modifications can be made only by the producer, for a fee. This shows that open-source software better matches the values embodied in academic scholarship, and since scholarship is central to the mission of universities, universities should use only open-source software.

Sheesh, what a mouthful. The commentator's arguing that universities should only use open-source software. Why? Because open source software embodies the academic process by nature of how it's developed. Easy enough.

As for a prediction, we're going to want an answer choice that follows the commentator's recommendation. Something like, "Universities ought to use software that embodies academic scholarship."

Wouldn't you know it, there it is in answer choice C:

Universities should choose the type of software technology that best matches the values embodied in the activities that are central to the mission of universities.

Beautiful. Prediction wins again.

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That's it for Parallel Principles. Join in next time when we tackle the essence of LR: Flaw Questions. I'll see you there.