Q16 - All poets, aside from those who write only epigrams, h

[randitect]

Can someone please explain this? I chose E...at a loss.
Thanks!

[tommywallach]

Hey Randitect,

Well, the answer is (E), so I can't tell if you know that and are still confused, or if you got it right, but you don't understand why.

So this is a match the reasoning question. In order to do this, you have to focus on the CORE--how the premises support the conclusion, then match it. Let's start with the prompt.

All X, Except XX, are Y. All Z are X.

Guy #1 is not an XX, but he is Z. So he is Y.

You'll notice I've removed all the actual content, so we can just look at cleanly. This may seem ridiculous at first, but it's the best way to think of these. Now, let's match that logic.

(A) All X, except XX, are Y. All X are Z. Nope it's already wrong. See how it switched the X and the Z?

(B) All X, except XX, are Y. All X are Z. Same error!

(C) All X, except XX, are Y. All Z are X. Then some really random weirdness.

(D) All X, except XX, are Y. None of the...Nope! We can't suddenly throw in a "none of the" when the original didn't have that.

(E) All X, except XX, are Y. All Z are X.

Thing #1 is not XX, and it is Z. So it is Y

Perfecto! Don't be afraid to knock something out as soon as it introduces something you didn't have in the original argument!

-t

[JodiA167]

Hi, I'm sorry. I also chose E-but do not understand why it's the correct answer. Can someone from Manhattan Prep post an updated response?

[smiller]

Our apologies for the slow response.

This is a Match the Reasoning question, so we're looking for an answer with a logical structure that is as close as possible to the structure in the stimulus.

Here's the structure in the stimulus:

Premise: All poets (except ones that only write epigrams) have wit. [All C, except D, are E]
Premise: All lyrical composers are poets. [All B are C]
Premise: Azriel is a lyrical composer. [A is B]
Premise: Azriel does not write epigrams. [A is not D]
Conclusion: Azriel has wit. [A is E].

Answer choice (E) has the same logical structure. We can represent the elements in choice (E) this way:

residential buildings = C
built last year = D
subject to fire code = E
townhouses = B
Bloom House = A

Remember that, in Match the Reasoning questions, we're not concerned about the subject matter, order of the sentences, or grammatical structure. We only need the logical structure to match. That's why expressing the premises and conclusion in abstract terms, like A, B, and C or X, Y, and Z, can be useful.

Does this answer your question?