Oct. 1997 Prep. 23 Section 3, Prob.23? Forum
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gweng
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:31 pm
Oct. 1997 Prep. 23 Section 3, Prob.23?
What's the logic flaw?
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Atlas LSAT Brian
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:12 pm
Re: Oct. 1997 Prep. 23 Section 3, Prob.23?
I think this is a tough problem, in part because it's hard to pin down "the logical flaw" in a nice, neat package like you can on other arguments. When you encounter a situation like that, especially on a "parallel" question, I think it's important to map out the reasoning than it is to name a certain flaw. Here's how I thought about it.
govt spends more money on X than Y.
more ppl die from Y than X
govt would save lives by spending less money on X and more on Y.
The flaws in this construction are many -- the assumption that spending more money will save lives is the biggest. But again, I think on a question like this, just mapping the reasoning out is usually sufficient to answer the question.
(A) govt enforces X more closely than Y
more people die on X than Y
govt would save lives by spending less money on X and more on Y.
Notice the difference in the pattern here. Also, this answer choice is trying to make you fall for the trap of picking it because it has the same content as the argument above.
(B) musician spends more time on X than Y
she is hired more often for Y than X
she would get hired more by spending less hours on X and more on Y
Yep. This is a match.
(C) autos burn more gas/minute on X than on Y
autos get fewer miles/gallon on Y than on X
therefore gas would be saved by driving less on Y and more on X.
Not a match.
(D) team spends more hours on X than Y
times for Y are better than X
would increase wins if it spent less time X and more on Y.
Tempting choice, and the second best match, in my opinion. Subtle difference in that this choice makes an additional leap in logic that the original does not. Namely, the leap from being faster at one stroke than another to "winning more swim meets."
(E) banks have higher profits on loans X than on Y loans.
borrowers willing to borrow larger sums with Y rates than X rates.
banks would make higher profits if they gave more Y loans and fewer X loans.
This is not a very good match, either.
(B) is the cleanest match, and therefore the best answer.
Hope that helps.
govt spends more money on X than Y.
more ppl die from Y than X
govt would save lives by spending less money on X and more on Y.
The flaws in this construction are many -- the assumption that spending more money will save lives is the biggest. But again, I think on a question like this, just mapping the reasoning out is usually sufficient to answer the question.
(A) govt enforces X more closely than Y
more people die on X than Y
govt would save lives by spending less money on X and more on Y.
Notice the difference in the pattern here. Also, this answer choice is trying to make you fall for the trap of picking it because it has the same content as the argument above.
(B) musician spends more time on X than Y
she is hired more often for Y than X
she would get hired more by spending less hours on X and more on Y
Yep. This is a match.
(C) autos burn more gas/minute on X than on Y
autos get fewer miles/gallon on Y than on X
therefore gas would be saved by driving less on Y and more on X.
Not a match.
(D) team spends more hours on X than Y
times for Y are better than X
would increase wins if it spent less time X and more on Y.
Tempting choice, and the second best match, in my opinion. Subtle difference in that this choice makes an additional leap in logic that the original does not. Namely, the leap from being faster at one stroke than another to "winning more swim meets."
(E) banks have higher profits on loans X than on Y loans.
borrowers willing to borrow larger sums with Y rates than X rates.
banks would make higher profits if they gave more Y loans and fewer X loans.
This is not a very good match, either.
(B) is the cleanest match, and therefore the best answer.
Hope that helps.
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gweng
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:31 pm
Re: Oct. 1997 Prep. 23 Section 3, Prob.23?
Emm...I like that about the leap in logic. Thanks.
