Flawed ReasoningDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: An advertisement claims that because people with laptops make 25 percent more money, the laptop itself is the reason for their higher salaries.
Conclusion: Owning a laptop computer is the cause of people obtaining higher-paying jobs.
Reasoning: Data shows that computer users who own laptops earn significantly more on average than those who do not.
Analysis: The argument falls into the classic trap of confusing correlation with causation. Just because two things happen at the same time—owning a laptop and having a high salary—doesn't mean one caused the other. It is quite a leap to assume the hardware is the hero here; it's much more likely that people who already have high-paying jobs simply have more disposable income to buy fancy gadgets. Look for an answer that identifies this failure to consider that the 'effect' might actually be the 'cause,' or that a third factor is responsible for both.
Conclusion: Owning a laptop computer is the cause of people obtaining higher-paying jobs.
Reasoning: Data shows that computer users who own laptops earn significantly more on average than those who do not.
Analysis: The argument falls into the classic trap of confusing correlation with causation. Just because two things happen at the same time—owning a laptop and having a high salary—doesn't mean one caused the other. It is quite a leap to assume the hardware is the hero here; it's much more likely that people who already have high-paying jobs simply have more disposable income to buy fancy gadgets. Look for an answer that identifies this failure to consider that the 'effect' might actually be the 'cause,' or that a third factor is responsible for both.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage14.Which one of the following identifies a reasoning error in the argument?
Correct Answer
C
The argument concludes that owning a laptop caused higher pay, but the same evidence is consistent with the reverse (higher pay leads to laptop ownership) or with a confounder. This matches concluding one thing caused another even though the evidence is consistent with the effect causing the supposed cause.
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