Example Question #1 : Determining The
Flaw In The Argument
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Example Question #2 : Determining The
Flaw In The Argument
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Example Question #3 : Determining The
Flaw In The Argument
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Example Question #4 : Determining The
Flaw In The Argument
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Example Question #5 : Determining The
Flaw In The Argument
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Example Question #6 : Determining The
Flaw In The Argument
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Example Question #7 : Determining The
Flaw In The Argument
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Example Question #8 : Determining The
Flaw In The Argument
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Example Question #3 : Determining The
Flaw In The Argument
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Example Question #1 : Flaw
Set 2
Example Question #11 : Flaw
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Example Question #12 : Flaw
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Example Question #13 : Flaw
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Example Question #14 : Flaw
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Example Question #15 : Flaw
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Example Question #16 : Flaw
Cook: Often times when I cook, I find that I can become over-
ambitious and prepare multiple dishes at once. As a result, I don’t
always pay enough attention to everything that I am preparing
and have a tendency to overcook some of my creations. I have
heard about a new type of cookware that is designed to prevent
overcooking, and am thinking of investing in it so that I can
prepare better food.
The cook’s reasoning is flawed because he is:
Possible Answers:
assuming that a condition precedent has already occurred.
confusing cause and effect.
relying on a sample size that is too narrow.
mistaking correlation for causation.
relying on information that does not have a credible source.
Correct answer:
mistaking correlation for causation.
Explanation:
The cookware is correlated to reduced overcooking. However, the
chef thinks that the cookware will cause his food to no longer be
overcooked, when the cause of such overcooking appears to be
his inability to focus on a single dish because of his excessive
multitasking. Therefore, the chef mistakes the cookware that he is
using as being the cause of his food being overcooked.
The correct answer identifies the cause/ correlation error that the
chef has made.
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Example Question #17 : Flaw
Market analyst: Physical media, like DVDs and CDs, will not be
sold for much longer. In the past five years, digital movie
downloads have increased by 60%, and digital music downloads
have increased by 70%. These trends are likely to continue,
especially when one considers the fact that digital media content
providers are not hampered by the manufacturing and labor costs
of physical media.
The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on
the grounds that the argument
Possible Answers:
presumes that the rights to most movies and music will be given
to digital media content providers
fails to take into account the possibility that some digital movies
and music are illegally downloaded
presumes, without providing justification, that an increase in sales
of one type of media necessarily leads to a decrease in sales of
another type
fails to provide a source for its claim that digital download trends
are likely to continue
fails to define the terms “manufacturing” and “labor”
Correct answer:
presumes, without providing justification, that an increase in sales
of one type of media necessarily leads to a decrease in sales of
another type
Explanation:
The argument provides no data indicating that sales of physical
media are decreasing, nor does it explain any connection
between increased digital media sales and physical media sales.
Without additional information, one could assume that both types
of media are increasing in sales. The incorrect answer choices do
not attack the argument’s reasoning, but focus on other factors
which do not necessarily affect the conclusion.
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Example Question #18 : Flaw
Beth: We should stop spending so much time and money on
climate change research. From the studies I've read, even if it is
an issue, it will not significantly affect our lifestyle for thousands
of years. With the pressing problems we face today, we cannot
afford to expend our resources in such a way. Besides, it's
politically divisive.
Stan: So you'd rather we just turn a blind eye and ignore climate
change? It's not just future generations that will be affected by
these issues. Having environmental awareness right now will help
to solve our energy and waste problems, not to mention the
impact on health. You have to look at the bigger picture.
Stan's response to Beth's argument is most vulnerable to
criticism on which of the following grounds?
Possible Answers:
It appeals to evidence which has not been properly supported.
It fails to recognize the importance of planning for one's future.
It attempts to refute a distorted version of an opposing position.
It cites irrelevant data in support of its conclusion.
It presupposes what it seeks to establish, and ignores potential
counterevidence.
Correct answer:
It attempts to refute a distorted version of an opposing position.
Explanation:
Stan's response focuses on awareness of climate change,
whereas Beth's argument was about spending time and funding
on climate change research. Therefore Stan distorts Beth's
position and attempts to argue against the distorted position. The
other answer choices, to the extent that they are valid at all, are
not nearly as fundamental to Stan's reasoning.
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Example Question #19 : Flaw
The government always protects animals that are at risk of
extinction. Further, some animals have become extinct even
though they were protected by the government. Black bears
must be at risk of extinction because the government recently
began protecting them.
The argument is flawed because it does which of the following?
Possible Answers:
Without support, concludes that bears will become extinct
because other animals protected by the government have
become extinct
Assumes that some animals are not at risk of extinction
Fails to account for the possibility that some animals at risk of
extinction will not in fact become extinct
Assumes that the government only protects animals that are at
risk of extinction
Determined that black bears only recently became at risk of
extinction
Correct answer:
Assumes that the government only protects animals that are at
risk of extinction
Explanation:
The argument states that all animals that are at risk of extinction
are protected by the government. It does not follow from this,
however, that only animals at risk of extinction are protected. The
government could protect animals at risk of extinction as well as
those that are not.
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Example Question #183 : Lsat Logical
Reasoning
Sports agent: College athletes should be paid for their efforts;
otherwise, there is no incentive for them to stay in college rather
than become professionals in their respective sports. After all,
college sports are nearly as popular as professional sports
nationwide, and billions of dollars are made annually by television
stations, athletic conferences, and associations promoting the
sports. Yet the student athletes themselves see none of the
money as long as they remain students. The way to keep
athletes in school is to begin paying them salaries commensurate
with what they would receive as professionals.
The reasoning in the sports agent’s argument is most vulnerable
to criticism on the grounds that the argument
Possible Answers:
bases its conclusion on subjective criteria rather than an objective
assessment of the merits of paying student athletes
fails to consider the possibility that many student athletes do not
play college sports with the intention of becoming professionals in
those sports
fails to adequately support the premises in such a manner that
the conclusion would follow from those premises
uses the key term “professional” in two different senses in various
parts of the argument
presumes, without providing justification, that college sports are
nearly as popular as professional sports nationwide
Correct answer:
fails to consider the possibility that many student athletes do not
play college sports with the intention of becoming professionals in
those sports
Explanation:
The argument creates a false dilemma by assuming that all
college athletes plan (and are able) to become professional
athletes. The paragraph contains no premise which supports this
assumption. The remaining answer choices do not properly
identify flaws in the argument’s reasoning.
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