Only an expert in some branch of psychology could understand why Patri

Hi Anurag

From the stimulus, we can gather the following:

(i) If A is not an "expert in some branch of psychology" (let's call this P) --> A cannot understand "why Patrick is behaving irrationally" (Q)
(ii) If A is an expert (this is nothing but complement of P ie; P') --> A is not "certain of being able to solve someone else’s problem" (R)

Option (D) states: If Charles is not an "expert in some branch of psychology" (P') --> Charles should not offer a solution

Now we know that if X --> Y then Y' --> X'. Applying this to (D), we get:

If Charles should offer a solution --> Charles is an expert (P') .

However, from (ii), we obtain, If Charles should offer a solution --> (P') --> R ie; Charles is not certain of solving the problem. This appears to be a contradiction - at least, it is not a truism. Hence we can rule (D) out.

Option (E) states: If Charles is certain of being able to solve Patrick’s behavioral problem (R') --> Charles does not understand why Patrick is behaving in this way (Q).

From (ii) & (i), R' --> P --> Q ie; Charles cannot understand "why Patrick is behaving irrationally". Therefore, option (E) is a truism (given the facts in the stimulus) and hence the correct answer.

Hope this helps.

Only an expert in some branch of psychology could understand why Patrick is behaving irrationally. But no expert is certain of being able to solve someone else’s problem. Patrick wants to devise a solution to his own behavioral problem.

Which one of the following conclusions can be validly drawn from the passage?


(A) Patrick does not understand why he is behaving in this way. - WRONG. He understands his problem that's why he is looking for devising a solution.

(B) Patrick is not an expert in psychology. - WRONG. May or may not be true.

(C) Patrick is not certain of being able to devise a solution to his own behavioral problem. - WRONG. Contradicts passage.

(D) Unless Charles is an expert in some branch of psychology, Charles should not offer a solution to Patrick’s behavioral problem. - WRONG. Contradicts passage info.

(E) If Charles is certain of being able to solve Patrick’s behavioral problem, then Charles does not understand why Patrick is behaving in this way. - CORRECT. A conditional, though additional information, that perfectly fits out passage.

Answer E.