A company policy states: all new software development projects must complete requirements validation before approval. The product department argues: next quarter's customer appreciation event is a newly launched project, so it must also complete requirements validation. Which of the following evaluations is most accurate?

Answer: C

• AThe argument is valid: as long as the event is newly launched, it should follow the same policy as new projects.✗ This incorrectly broadens 'new software development projects' to 'any newly launched activity,' missing the qualification in the policy.
• BThe argument is valid: the product department has the authority to define the customer appreciation event as a new project, so the policy applies.✗ Whether an item falls under the policy depends on the policy's definition and the nature of the business, not on a department's arbitrary labeling.
• CThe argument is invalid: the customer appreciation event may not be a new software development project as defined by the policy, so directly applying the rule commits the fallacy of equivocation.✓ This correctly identifies the equivocation: the major premise restricts 'new projects' to software development, while the minor premise only says 'newly launched activity,' so the two may not be the same.
• DThe argument is invalid: requirements validation consumes time and cost, so it should not apply to the customer appreciation event.✗ Exempting on the basis of cost does not clarify conceptual or policy applicability; it is a misjudgment that ignores the rule itself.