Logical reasoning PrepTest 138 · Section 3 · Question 5

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Errors in Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
Musicians - Music piracy robs us of royalties
Editorialist - Sure, but record companies, publishers, managers, etcÉ take more money, so piracy isn't to blame

Answer Anticipation:
The Editorialist here states that piracy isn't to blame for musicians losing out on royalties. Why? Because the record companies, publishers, managers, and others take a very large share of the musicians' revenue, and so they're to blame for the lack of royalties received.

However, that's assuming that only one person/group can be responsible for the same problem. Here, it's possible that both piracy and a predatory industry can be to blame for musicians not receiving their fair share. The correct answer should highlight that the argument overlooks that more than one group can be blameworthy for a problem, or that the argument assumes only one group can be to blame.

Answer Explanation:
This answer highlights the error in the Editorialist's reasoning. She concludes that piracy isn't to blame for musicians' woes because other groups are. However, that ignores the possibility that there's enough blame to go around.

Key Takeaway:
When an argument rules something out in the conclusion based on the presence of something else, check to see if they could both be true. Most things aren't mutually exclusive and, as they say, there's usually enough blame to go around.

Incorrect. The Editorialist isn't trying to promote any behavior. In fact, in stating that there is blame to be had, the Editorialist is trying to argue certain behavior is wrong.

Incorrect. While the Editorialist might question the character of the record companies, publishers, managers, etc . . . when she states that their share is "inequitably" large, the argument doesn't attack their position. The Editorialist attacks the position of the musicians who claim piracy is to blame for their lack of royalties, and she doesn't address their character at all. This ad hominem answer is incorrect.

Incorrect. The Editorialist doesn't point out a negative consequence of believing piracy is to blame for a lack of royalties.

Incorrect. There's no conditional logic or a conditional assumption made in the stimulus.