Logical reasoning PrepTest 119 · Section 2 · Question 17

Question prompt

Legislator: The recently released Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: E

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Argument or Facts

Argument/Argument

Valid or Flawed

Flawed/Valid

Question Type

Methods of Reasoning Questions

Stimulus Summary

L: Areas that have implemented “tough on crime” laws have seen a drop in crime, so they’re working.
A: The data provides good news, but they don’t support your conclusion. Some places without the laws have also seen that effect.

Answer Anticipation

Ah, Errors in Reasoning. You come in handy yet again.
The method of reasoning employed by the Analyst should sound familiar to you - it sees her pointing out a correlation/causation flaw on the part of the Legislator. He brings up the correlation between a drop in crime and new “tough on crime” laws to suggest that the latter caused the former.
The Analyst responds with a common method of weakening an argument with a correlation/causation flaw - she brings up counterexamples. She discusses areas without the supposed cause (no “tough on crime” laws) that have the supposed effect (a drop in crime at the same time).
The correct answer should highlight that she pointed out this flaw.

Answer choices

  1. A
    pointing out that the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    The Analyst doesn’t attack the reliability of the data - in fact, she notes that the statistics are welcome news, seemingly accepting them as true!
  2. B
    arguing that the legislator Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    While this answer does describe one way to attack a correlation/causation flaw, it’s not the one brought up by the Analyst. She brings up a counterexample (no cause/effect), not a potential cause of both the laws and the drop in crime.
  3. C
    objecting that the statistics Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    She doesn’t attack the sample length of the statistics.
  4. D
    claiming that the legislator Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    There’s no attack on the Legislator’s person (specifically, on a bias he may have).
  5. E
    implying that the legislator Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E matches the stem
    This answer, in a very abstract manner, refers to the “counterexamples” that the Analyst has raised. She brings up situations where the supposed effect showed up without the supposed cause - which matches up perfectly with this answer.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 6%
  2. B 18%
  3. C 1%
  4. D 1%
  5. E Credited 74%

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