If the conductor does not want to participate in the New York competit

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Answer: D

STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task.
This is a Deduction question. It asks you to find among the answers the one statement that must be true assuming the statements in the passage are true.

STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind.
The argument gives a set of conditionals, one for the conductor, one for the orchestra, and one that binds them together. Use shorthand to note these conditions: if C not NY, then other competitions. If O not NY, then no competitions. Lastly, C or O not NY. You can infer from the last statement competitions. Lastly, C or O not NY. You can infer from the last statement that if C yes NY, then O not NY, or if O yes NY, then C not NY.

STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for.
The correct answer will most likely test that you understand how these conditionals work together. As you begin to read the answers, you notice that they are a series of “if … then” statements. You should attempt the same shorthand with each to evaluate them.

STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice.
Answer A says O yes NY, then no competitions. This contradicts your second conditional altogether, so this is not your answer. Answer B cannot be done in shorthand because it discusses a probability (“more likely”), and your given conditionals are not based on likelihoods. They are certainties, so this cannot be your answer. Answer C also cannot be done in shorthand because it is a recommendation, not a statement. The word should is key to recognizing the problem with this option. Answer D says C yes NY, then no competitions. You know that if C yes NY, then O not NY. Thus, if O not NY, then no competitions. This would seem to be your answer. Answer E, similar to answer B, deals in probabilities (“likely”) and disqualifies this option. The correct choice is answer D.