LSAT Explanation PT 20, S4, Q20: The report released by the interior

LSAT Question Stem

The argument above exhibits an erroneous pattern of reasoning most similar to that exhibited by which one of the following? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Parallel Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Parallel Flaw, which means we are looking for an answer choice that exhibits a similar flawed pattern of reasoning as the argument in the passage.

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The structure of the argument is as follows:

1. Premise: The report states that there has been a 19% increase in arable land due to the land-reclamation program.

2. Premise: Senator Armand, a brilliant mathematician, believes the program couldn't have been successful.

3. Conclusion: Therefore, the figures cited in the report must be inaccurate.

The main flaw in this argument is that it relies on Senator Armand's expertise in an unrelated field (mathematics) to dismiss the report's figures, without providing any evidence or reasoning to support her claim.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "What is the basis for Senator Armand's belief that the program couldn't have been successful?"

Now let's analyze the answer choices:

a) This answer choice does not parallel the flaw in the passage because it does not involve an inappropriate appeal to authority. Instead, it weighs an eyewitness account (Albert finding the spare keys) more heavily than the father's claim.

b) This answer choice also does not parallel the flaw in the passage. It sides with the student, not an authority, and involves a different flaw: the failure to carry out a policy 100% doesn't prove the policy doesn't exist.

c) This answer choice does involve an appeal to authority, but it is a correct application of expertise. Dr. Treviso has specific expertise in cardiopulmonary science, which is relevant to Amos' claim, making this answer choice different from the passage's flaw.

d) This answer choice involves a Mistaken Reversal in its logic and does not involve an inappropriate appeal to authority. It does not parallel the flaw in the passage.

e) This answer choice is the correct one. It involves an inappropriate appeal to authority (Lomas, a bicycle engineering expert) to dismiss an eyewitness account (Moira's report of the race). Like the passage, this answer choice relies on the expertise of an authority in an unrelated field to dismiss evidence without providing any reasoning or support for their claim.

So, the correct answer is (E).