LSAT Question Stem

The reasoning in the city council member's argument is flawed because 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The city council member argues that the mayor is sacrificing the city's interests for personal interests because the mayor's family is involved in real estate development. The council member acknowledges the mayor's claim that imposing real estate development fees would reduce the number of building starts and result in a revenue loss to the city. Here, we can identify the conclusion as "the mayor is sacrificing the city's interests to personal interests." The premises include the city's need for revenue, the mayor's blocking of fees, the figures showing revenue loss, and the mayor's family's involvement in real estate.

Now, let's create an "Evaluate" question: "Is it possible for the mayor's course of action to be both personally advantageous and advantageous for the city?"

The question type is a Flaw question, asking us to identify the flaw in the city council member's argument. Let's discuss each answer choice:

a) This answer choice is incorrect because the mayor's personal interest is relevant to the assessment of his actions. The council member is attacking the mayor's motives, but the mayor does provide legitimate reasoning that the real estate fees would reduce the number of building starts and lead to revenue loss for the city.

b) This is the correct answer choice. It acknowledges that the mayor's course of action being personally advantageous is not inconsistent with it being advantageous for the city. The mayor's personal interest and the city's interest may both be served by the same course of action.

c) This answer choice is incorrect because the council member's own absence of personal interest in the proposed legislation is not relevant to the argument. The conclusion is explicitly about the mayor.

d) This answer choice is incorrect because it is out of scope. The conclusion has nothing to do with needs and rights.

e) This answer choice is incorrect because even if the mayor's need to avoid loss of family revenue is as desperate as the city's need to increase municipal revenue, it doesn't change the fact that the mayor's action could still be sacrificing the city's interests to personal interests.

In summary, the correct answer is B because it addresses the possibility that the mayor's course of action could be both personally advantageous and advantageous for the city. Answer A is incorrect because the mayor's personal interest is relevant to the assessment of his actions, but it doesn't necessarily prove the council member's conclusion.