LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following describes a flaw in the reasoning of the argument above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is a Flaw question, which asks us to identify the flaw in the reasoning of the argument.

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage:

Premise: A nationwide poll shows that over 90% of students, parents, and teachers believe an appropriate percentage of their school's budget is being spent on student counseling programs.

Conclusion: Any significant increase in a school's budget should be spent on something other than student counseling programs.

The argument's structure is flawed, and we can illustrate this using a simple example:

Imagine a school has a total budget of $100, and they spend $10 on counseling programs (10% of the budget). According to the poll, 90% of people think this percentage is appropriate. Now, let's say the school's budget doubles to $200. The argument suggests that the extra money should be spent on something other than counseling programs, even though the poll would support increasing the counseling budget to $20 (maintaining the 10% portion).

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Does the poll's consensus on the appropriate percentage of the budget spent on counseling programs apply to changes in the total budget?"

Now, let's discuss each answer choice:

a) The argument confuses a mere coincidence with a causal relationship.

This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not assert a causal relationship between any factors.

b) The argument confuses the percentage of the budget spent on a program with the overall amount spent on that program.

This answer choice is correct. The argument incorrectly assumes that if the percentage spent on counseling programs is appropriate, then the overall amount should not change, even if the total budget increases.

c) The argument fails to justify its presumption that what is true of a part of the budget is also true of the total budget.

This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not make any presumptions about the relationship between a part of the budget and the total budget.

d) The argument fails to consider the possibility that money could be saved by training students as peer counselors.

This answer choice is incorrect because it introduces a new idea that is not relevant to the flaw in the argument's reasoning.

e) The argument fails to consider that if more money is spent on a program, then more money cannot also be used for other purposes.

This answer choice is incorrect because it does not address the flaw in the argument's reasoning regarding the percentage of the budget spent on counseling programs.

In conclusion, the correct answer choice is (b), as it accurately describes the flaw in the argument's reasoning: confusing the percentage of the budget spent on counseling programs with the overall amount spent on those programs.