LSAT Logical Reasoning Flaw Except Question

LSAT Blog Logical Reasoning Flaw Except QuestionHere's an LSAT Logical Reasoning question I've written. Please leave your thoughts and questions in the comments!

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Millions of Narnians lack private health insurance, but millions of Narnians spend large percentages of their disposable income on entertainment. Therefore, Narnians clearly do not value their health.

Each of the following accurately describes a flaw in the reasoning displayed above EXCEPT:

(A) It overlooks the possibility that many Narnians do not understand the benefits of private health insurance.

(B) It takes for granted that some Narnians who lack health coverage spend large portions of their budgets on nonessential goods or services.

(C) It presumes, without providing justification, that Narnians do not value their health unless they purchase private health insurance.

(D) It presumes, without providing warrant, that Narnians who possess private health insurance value their health.

(E) It fails to consider the possibility that private health insurance in Narnia is unaffordable for millions of Narnians.

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Highlight the text below to see the answer to the above Logical Reasoning question.

D

***

Photo by theproteinkid / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0



38 comments:

  1. Looks to me like the best answer would be "B". However, the wording of "B" would need to be fixed slightly to make it the clear choice. It is not "taking for granted", but rather "suggesting". The reason I say that is since no where in there does it say that Narnians with health insurance value health, but goes as far as to say none do.

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  2. Could you please explain your reasoning on why the answer is D for the Flaw question and why B is incorrect? Thanks!

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  3. I considered B as well. ??? But I am curious as to why it's D.

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  4. B here as well. I had a feeling the right answer was D but of course I chose B. I always do that!

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  5. (B) is a flaw contained within the argument. The author mistakenly assumes that the two "groups" of millions ("non-health insurance" and "entertainment-buying") overlap.

    Perhaps there is no overlap between the two groups. For example, in a country of 50 million, you could have 25 million who have no insurance and 25 million who spend a large portion of their budgets on entertainment. (The numbers wouldn't even have to add to the total population of the country.)

    On the other hand, choice D confuses necessary and sufficient conditions. The argument concludes that if a Narnian doesn't buy private health insurance, then he/she doesn't value his/her health.

    To say that if a Narnian does possess private health insurance, then he/she must value his/her health would certainly be a flaw. However, the argument doesn't make any claims about those who do possess private health insurance. Therefore, this is not a flaw that the argument makes.

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  6. Premises:
    Millions of Narnians have no health insurance.
    Millions of Narnians spend a large % of their disposable income on entertainment.

    Conclusion: Narnians do not value their health.

    Logical connector: Narnians are spending their money on entertainment instead of health insurance.

    If Narnians don't spend on health insurance -> Narnians don't value their health.

    Contra: If Value -> Spend.

    (A), (C), and (E) are clearly wrong.

    (D) doesn't seem to confuse this. So, I see why it is correct.

    (B) is a bad answer because it could be argued to be out of scope, I think. I initially went for B, just like a lot of other posters. I changed to D but could easily argue that B is OOS. Who cares if Narnians spend disposable income on nonessential services? That's not necessarily related, right?

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  7. Hi Tom (and others who chose B),

    I understand why you think B is not a flaw.

    However, the entire argument rests on the "logical connector."

    I would have phrased the logical connector as:

    "The very same Narnians who lack health insurance spend a large % of their budgets on entertainment."

    Entertainment falls within the category of nonessential goods or services.

    % = portion

    LSAC often uses synonyms in this way. Test-takers often miss questions because they don't recognize a concept from the stimulus when it appears in the answer choices.

    The key to eliminating choice B is in recognizing that entertainment is a type of nonessential good or service.

    Hope this clears it up!

    -Steve

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  8. Great Question.

    Steve, first of all, I tried to do this question under 1:30, so I did not have the time to perform a detailed analysis like the one you performed. But nonetheless, I can follow your reasoning, and I agree with it.

    I picked D, because I noticed the leap in logic you referred to, and I quickly realized that A, B, C, and E attacked this assumption. Where as D was concerned with "Narnians who do possess health insurance," a group clearly not referred to in the stimulus.

    T.R.

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  9. Why is entertainment a non-essential good or service? Aren't non-essential goods and services such things as unneeded taxi rides, more clothing than needed, etc.? I.e., can't you just take all essential goods, add more of them, and get non-essential goods? And, more importantly, can't we have these without having them for the purpose of entertainment? Additionally, can't we think of things like movies and concerts as neither goods (because they aren't objects) nor services? Of course, if by 'good' you mean anything with economic value, then your reasoning follows, but this isn't the primary meaning in 'goods and services,' since the phrase would then be redundant. Choice D is obviously the right answer, but for this to be a good LSAT question, it has to be clear that one can't spend money on entertainment without spending money on non-essential goods and services. As worded, however, this seems to allow room for varying interpretations.

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  10. I'm glad you're actively engaging with the question. This is good.

    However, there are a few problems with your reasoning here, and I think others who had difficulty with the question will benefit from a more detailed explanation, so here goes:

    Sure, unnecessary taxi rides and extra clothing are nonessential by definition, but they're not the only nonessential things that exist.

    I agree, of course, that a greater quantity of essential things than is necessary will turn some quantity of those things into nonessentials (at least, for the owner because the owner wouldn't need ALL of them - just some).

    However, I disagree with your contention that one can't classify every type of entertainment into the category of either "goods" or "services."

    DVDs and books are physical goods.

    Concerts, sporting events, and movies are services. Musicians, athletes, and actors perform for your amusement. You explained why they aren't goods, and I agree with you. However, you gave no evidence as to why they're not services. I would argue that they are services because their ostensible primary function is not to sell you something tangible (tickets are just a means to an end). They perform a service - they give you pleasure by selling you experiences.

    I hope this resolves the "goods and services" issue (it's actually "goods or services" in the answer choice, by the way).

    However, I think the real issue you're having with the question is whether entertainment is, by definition, nonessential or not.

    I argue that entertainment is nonessential, and I believe that LSAC would agree.

    Common definitions of "entertainment" include "diversion," "amusement," and "recreation."

    Are these essential?

    Life would certainly be boring without them, but in the context of a discussion regarding health, we're talking about essential in general, not essential to self-actualization.

    An example that comes to mind with regard to "primary meanings" on the LSAT is PrepTest 21, Section 2, Question 17 (page 93 in 10 More Actual).

    This Weaken question concerns the members of the Akabe tribe and their early-morning tea drink. Selection of the correct answer by any means other than process of elimination relies on your knowledge of the medical definition of the word "narcotic" (sleep-inducing) - not the more common usage of the term "narcotic" (any illegal drug).

    Just as Choice B of my Flaw Except question may allow room for varying interpretations, Choice C of PrepTest 21, Section 2, Question 17 depends upon varying interpretations of the word "narcotic."

    If Choice B of my question said "entertainment" instead of "nonessential goods or services", it would have been too easy to eliminate.

    If Choice C of PT21, S2, Q17 said "sleep-inducing drug", it would've been too easy to eliminate as well.

    Much of what makes this exam difficult is the fact that it frequently presents simple concepts with difficult, vague, and general language (as do many legal documents).

    Whether or not that's fair or nice doesn't really matter here. At the end of the day, it's something that the LSAT does, so always think outside the box and expose yourself to as many LSAT questions as possible to get used to the "LSAT mindset."

    Hope this helps.

    -Steve

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  11. I think its a good question, I choose D as the answer. I picked it because it did not explain a flaw in the reasoning! I just found out about this site, nice!

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  12. yes, definitely chose D. Narnians who posses health care were never mentioned in the argument. clear choice. good question

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  13. I agree. The answer is clearly D. It is a good question.

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  14. Though I agree that D is the best answer, I fail to see how E) describes a flaw in the argument. The affordability of healthcare is not at issue in the argument; how can failing to consider affordability be a flaw if it's completely irrelevant?

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