Q19 - Although the slightest difference in shades of paint

[Laura Damone]

Question Type:
Match the Reasoning

Stimulus Breakdown:
Opposing Point: The slightest difference in shades of paint is noticeable.

Conclusion: It is pointless to spend much time trying to match old paint exactly when repainting part of the interior or a house.

Evidence: Paint fades in the months after it's been applied.

Intermediate Conclusion: Even if new paint matches the old paint when applied, the two won't match after a year or so.

Answer Anticipation:
We've got a four-part argument here: an opposing point, a premise, an intermediate conclusion, and a main conclusion. The argument isn't diagrammable, but we can describe it abstractly: Don't try too hard to make something perfect at the outset because it will always slip into imperfection with time. Expect wrong answers that lack an intermediate conclusion, have too many premises, or don't follow the same abstract pattern.

Correct answer:
A

Answer choice analysis:
(A) No intermediate conclusion. This argument proceeds: opposing point, premise, conclusion. But, it does follow the same abstract pattern: don't strive for perfection at the outset, because imperfection will always catch up to you. Defer.

(B) No intermediate conclusion. This argument proceeds: premise, premise, conclusion. And it doesn't have the same abstract pattern. Eliminate.

(C) No intermediate conclusion. This argument proceeds: premise, premise, conclusion. And it doesn't have the same abstract pattern. Eliminate.

(D) No intermediate conclusion. This argument proceeds: premise, premise, conclusion. And it doesn't have the same abstract pattern. Eliminate.

(E) No intermediate conclusion. This argument proceeds: premise, premise, conclusion. And it doesn't have the same abstract pattern. Eliminate.

Takeaway/Pattern:
That leaves us with A, but if you eliminated it on your first pass, that makes two of us! The lack of an intermediate conclusion would typically be a fatal flaw in a Match the Reasoning question, but since all the other answers lacked the intermediate conclusion, too, A was the closest match because it, at least, followed the same abstract pattern. Even the best test-takers will sometimes eliminate all five answers. When that happens to you, don't freak out. Start again with answer choice A, consider what made you eliminate it in the first place, and consider any redeeming qualities it has. If there's hope for redemption, cancel your elimination. On the digital test, this can be done by clicking the elimination oval a second time. If the answer still seems hopeless, leave it eliminated and move on to the next answer. Ideally, you'll do a full second pass like this, then compare your contenders and make a selection. But if you realize, like I did, upon rereading one answer that it is the only one that could be correct, select it. Don't sink more time in if you're confident you've got the best of the bad answers in hand.

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