Logical reasoning PrepTest 125 · Section 2 · Question 19

Incorrect. This answer doesn't describe a flaw—it describes the contrapositive! Since the contrapositive is a valid expression of a statement, this answer won't ever be right in an Errors in Reasoning question.

Incorrect. The argument specifically states that a computer wasn't necessary to discover the information, so the presence of a computer in the argument is immaterial to the logic.

Incorrect. The argument draws a conclusion limited to discussing Jennifer and the Eagles, not sports in general, so this answer is incorrect.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Errors in Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
Eagles lost → not Jennifer playing
Therefore - Jennifer playing → Fly Eagles Fly! (Eagles win)

Answer Anticipation:
This argument has two elements that suggest specific flaws.

First, it features conditional logic ("only when"). It establishes a conditional relationship, and then it reaches a conclusion that's almost the contrapositive ("will ensure that" highlights a sufficient condition). Normally, conditional logic in an Errors in Reasoning question features an illegal reversal or negation, but here, there's a different issue with that conclusion. While it does try to take the contrapositive of the premise, it has a slight shift. The contrapositive should be Jennifer playing → not Eagles lost. Not losing isn't the same as winning—that ignores the possibility of a tie. So while we can't look for an illegal reversal/negation answer, we can look for an answer saying that it ignores this middle ground.

Second, the conclusion makes a prediction about the future ("will win"). This is based on information about the past. That Shift in the Time Period is flawed logic, and a correct answer could highlight that this past trend won't necessarily continue into the future.

Answer Explanation:
This answer highlights the second flaw we noted—the shift in the time period. The occurrences coinciding in the past—Jennifer being out and the team losing—might not continue to coincide—she may play during a loss.

Key Takeaway:
The LSAT will throw answers at you in Errors of Reasoning questions that don't actually describe flaws. Answer choice (A) sure sounds LSAT-y, though, doesn't it? Make sure you're picking answers based on the content, not how they sound!

Incorrect. The conclusion drawn isn't about the value of computer analysis.