Logical reasoning PrepTest 146 · Section 3 · Question 12

Incorrect. The argument doesn't rely on the lawyer's field being as complex as a doctor's—it just has to be close enough for the analogy to hold. That could mean it's at a lower level than the doctor's.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen with Necessary Premise

Stimulus Summary:
Goal Ð Get a will
DIY software Ð Cheaper, get a valid will
Lawyer Ð More expensive, equally valid will
BUT! You go see a doctor when you're sick to get expert advice on your case
Similarly, going to a lawyer gets you advice on your case
Therefore: A lawyer is worth paying for

Answer Anticipation:
There's a lot going on in this argument—comparisons, a pivot, an analogy. When we're lost or don't know where to start, we should look to the conclusion and work backwards (not bad advice for when you're not lost, either!).

Here, the conclusion is that a lawyer is worth the price if you need a will. Why? Because a lawyer—like a doctor—can tailor the expert advice to your individual circumstances. This is why you should use that option instead of the DIY software.

So what's the assumption there? Well, it's twofold. First, the expert advice and tailoring of the will to your circumstances is worth the extra cost. It arguably is for doctors because they're dealing with your health, but maybe a will has less room for customization or error. Second, it's not established that DIY software can't address your particular needs. It's possible that the software is just as capable as a lawyer at identifying what from your estate is important and tailoring a will accordingly.

Either of these assumptions could lead to a correct answer, so let's dive in.

Answer Explanation:
If DIY software can tailor a will to a person's circumstances as well as a lawyer, there's no reason to pay the extra money for the lawyer and the argument falls apart. This answer is necessary for the argument to work.

Key Takeaway:
When an argument has a lot going on and you don't know where to start, start with the conclusion and work backwards from there.

Incorrect. There doesn't have to be dissatisfaction with DIY software for lawyers to be worth it. People could be generally happy with their DIY wills, but they would have found it worth it had they went with a lawyer.

Incorrect. There's no indication what the majority of people currently use to get a will made, so there's no way of knowing if the lawyers or DIY software (or some other method) isn't meeting their needs.

Incorrect. This answer addresses the analogy, and no additional aspect of an analogy will ever need to be assumed for an argument to work.