Critical Reasoning: Paradox Questions

For five years Mr. Brady was unable to pass the first round in The New South Hampton Cake contest. On the sixth year, his cake won the competition.

Which of the following statements, if true, helps to explain the apparent discrepancy above?

Incorrect.

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This answer choice emphasizes the paradox rather than resolves it. If Mr. Brady submitted the same cake in all the contests, why did he only win the sixth?

Incorrect.

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This answer choice does a great job at explaining why Mr. Brady didn't with the third competition, but what about the other four failures? The paradox of Mr. Brady's other 4 failures and his outstanding success on his sixth attempt remains unresolved.

Incorrect.

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This answer choice gives us a difference between the first 5 contests and the 6th, but not one that resolves the paradox. We don't know how the change in the day of the week affected the outcome of the contest, so the paradox remains unresolved.

Incorrect.

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This answer choice shows a difference between Mr. Brady's cakes, but as it occured between the third and fourth contests, it cannot help to explain the change between the fifth and the sixth contests.

Spot on!

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This answer choice is the only one that gives us a good reason at the right time - between the fifth and sixth contests. If the first five cakes got ruined on the way, they stood no chance of success. With the addition of the preservative, the new cake did. Paradox resolved!

Mr. Brady submitted the same cake in all six seasons.

In his third contest, Mr. Brady's third consecutive failure can be at least partially attributed to the large bite marks which were discernible on the side of the cake.

Whereas the first five competitions were held on a Sunday, the sixth was held on a Saturday.

Mr. Brady switched in his fourth contest from a lemon-peppermint cheese cake to a rum chocolate fudge cake.

In light of the long truck drive from Mr. Brady's farm to the competition, Mr. Brady finally agreed, before the sixth competition, to add a preservative to his cakes.