Flawed ReasoningDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: You need both 'depth' and 'feeling involved' to understand the news, but since most people only watch TV or only read the paper, they never get the full picture.
Conclusion: Very few people ever achieve a complete understanding of current events.
Reasoning: Understanding requires both depth and a sense of involvement; TV provides involvement without depth, newspapers provide depth without involvement, and most people only use one or the other.
Analysis: The argument suffers from a 'false dilemma' or 'exclusivity' flaw. It assumes that because TV and newspapers are the primary sources and neither is sufficient alone, people have no other way to get the missing information. The author ignores the possibility that people could supplement their preferred source with other media, like magazines, radio, or digital long-form journalism. When identifying the flaw, look for an answer choice that points out this failure to consider alternative ways for people to satisfy both requirements for understanding.
Conclusion: Very few people ever achieve a complete understanding of current events.
Reasoning: Understanding requires both depth and a sense of involvement; TV provides involvement without depth, newspapers provide depth without involvement, and most people only use one or the other.
Analysis: The argument suffers from a 'false dilemma' or 'exclusivity' flaw. It assumes that because TV and newspapers are the primary sources and neither is sufficient alone, people have no other way to get the missing information. The author ignores the possibility that people could supplement their preferred source with other media, like magazines, radio, or digital long-form journalism. When identifying the flaw, look for an answer choice that points out this failure to consider alternative ways for people to satisfy both requirements for understanding.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage9.The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument
Correct Answer
A
Correct. It points out the core flaw: the argument treats newspapers and television as if one must choose between them, when in fact people can use both to obtain both necessary components.
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