The years 1917, 1937, 1956, 1968, 1979, and 1990 are all notable for the occurrence of both popular uprisings and nea...

Mehran on November 9, 2015

Thank you for your question. This Logical Reasoning stimulus reasons along these lines: (1) there is a correlation between popular uprisings & near-max sunspot activity (in certain years, there were both popular uprisings and near-max sunspot activity); (2) when there is heavy sunspot activity, there is a sharp rise in positively charged ions in the air we breathe; and (3) positively charged ions are known to cause people to be anxious and irritable. Thus, (4) sunspot activity is likely a factor in triggering popular uprisings.

Answer choice (E) follows the same reasoning structure, as follows: (1) there is a correlation between the quality of being among Acme's most productive managers and occupying a corner office, which has more windows; (2) more windows means more natural light; (3) more natural light means more alertness; (4) so more productivity is at least in part due to working in a corner office.

Answer choice (C), by contrast, is an example of a conclusion drawn when the author just reversed her premises. You can't do this. She reasons as follows: (1) When cold, more fuel used C ==>  F+; (2) when more fuel used, prices rise F+ ==>  P+. Now, these premises would support a transitive conclusion that when it is cold, prices rise. But the conclusion drawn here is backwards: when prices rise, it's because of cold weather. P+ ==>  C.

Hope this helps. Let us know if you have any more questions.

Mehran on November 9, 2015

Thank you for your question. This Logical Reasoning stimulus reasons along these lines: (1) there is a correlation between popular uprisings & near-max sunspot activity (in certain years, there were both popular uprisings and near-max sunspot activity); (2) when there is heavy sunspot activity, there is a sharp rise in positively charged ions in the air we breathe; and (3) positively charged ions are known to cause people to be anxious and irritable. Thus, (4) sunspot activity is likely a factor in triggering popular uprisings.

Answer choice (E) follows the same reasoning structure, as follows: (1) there is a correlation between the quality of being among Acme's most productive managers and occupying a corner office, which has more windows; (2) more windows means more natural light; (3) more natural light means more alertness; (4) so more productivity is at least in part due to working in a corner office.

Answer choice (C), by contrast, is an example of a conclusion drawn when the author just reversed her premises. You can't do this. She reasons as follows: (1) When cold, more fuel used C ==> F+; (2) when more fuel used, prices rise F+ ==> P+. Now, these premises would support a transitive conclusion that when it is cold, prices rise. But the conclusion drawn here is backwards: when prices rise, it's because of cold weather. P+ ==> C.

Hope this helps. Let us know if you have any more questions.