PrepTest 112

[lcid:3547] Prep Test 112 LSAT — Logical Reasoning — S4 Logical reasoning

Question prompt

Commissioner: Budget forecasters project Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: B

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

Argument or Facts

Argument

Valid or Flawed

Flawed

Question Type

Errors in Reasoning Questions

Stimulus Summary

Problem - $1b budget shortfall
Elimination of one solution - We can’t raise that money
Solution - This plan cuts $1b
Conclusion - We will solve the problem “only if” we adopt the plan

Answer Anticipation

When analyzing an argument that presents a problem and a solution, you should generally start by seeing if the proposed solution actually addresses the problem. Here, it does! The budget shortfall is $1b, and the Commissioner’s plan saves that much money.
However, there’s another element in this stimulus that’s likely to lead to a flaw - that strong conclusion. The Commissioner doesn’t conclude that the problem can be solved by adopting the plan, but rather it can be solved “only” by adopting the plan. That excludes other possible plans that would work. While a plan that aims to raise $1b would fail, the Commissioner doesn’t establish that there isn’t another plan out there that could cut $1b from areas other than in her plan.
Since the Commissioner treats one potential solution to a problem as the only potential solution, her argument is flawed - let’s find an answer that points this out.

Answer choices

  1. A
    relies on information that Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    This answer is suggesting that the forecasts from the budget forecasters are on shaky grounds. However, while it may not be 100% certain, these forecasters are almost certainly putting something together that’s in the ballpark and certainly isn’t off by a billion dollars, so this answer is off on scale.
  2. B
    confuses being an adequate Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B matches the stem
    The Commissioner’s plan does address the budget shortfall, so it’s an adequate solution. However, she concludes that it’s the only plan that will work, treating it as a required solution. That shift is a flaw in her argument, so this answer is correct.
  3. C
    inappropriately relies on the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    Relying on budget forecasters for budget forecasts is the definition of relying on the right experts.
  4. D
    inappropriately employs language that Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    In general, vague language on the LSAT will refer to a single word being used to represent multiple concepts, which we don’t have here.
  5. E
    Takes for granted that Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    It doesn’t take that for granted - it establishes it as a premise. When an argument presents something as a fact to support the conclusion, we accept it as true - it’s not an assumption.

What this tests

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