According to the school’s principal, no teacher refusing to participate in the afternoon conference was allowed to attend the buffet dinner immediately after the conference. Brett, who is one of the school’s teachers, is not the sort of person to refuse a buffet dinner; yet I’m certain Brett was not at the dinner. I can only conclude that Brett refused to participate in the conference.

Which of the following demonstrates a pattern of reasoning most like the flawed reasoning in the argument above?

(A) All attentive students are rewarded with high grades in school. Alan is not attentive as a student. Therefore, he will not be rewarded with high grades in school.

(B) Every person seated in the front row can hear the coach’s instructions to his players. Ursula can hear the coach’s instructions. Therefore, Ursula must be seated in the front row.

(C) Anyone who claims to have been abducted by aliens is either not being truthful or is mistaken about whether he or she has been abducted by aliens. Sandy is always truthful. Therefore, she has not been abducted by aliens.

(D) Every legislator is in favor of the bill. Martha is not in favor of the bill. Therefore, she must not be a legislator.

(E) This sculpture is either priceless or a worthless fake. This sculpture is not a worthless fake. Therefore, it is priceless.


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