Flawed ReasoningDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Anna mentions an ancient scholar's theory on rainbows. William dismisses the theory entirely just because the scholar also believed in monsters and weird medical cures.
Conclusion: Pliny the Elder's claim regarding the position of rainbows in the sky is incorrect.
Reasoning: Pliny the Elder is an unreliable source because he also made absurd claims about mythical creatures and bizarre medical remedies.
Analysis: This is a classic Ad Hominem or 'Source Character' flaw. William is attacking Pliny's general credibility rather than addressing the specific claim about rainbows. Just because someone is wrong about dog-headed people doesn't mean they are wrong about basic meteorology. Look for an answer that points out the error of rejecting a specific claim based solely on the unreliability of the person making it. It's a bit like saying a chef can't tell you the time because they once burnt a soufflé—the two things aren't necessarily related.
Conclusion: Pliny the Elder's claim regarding the position of rainbows in the sky is incorrect.
Reasoning: Pliny the Elder is an unreliable source because he also made absurd claims about mythical creatures and bizarre medical remedies.
Analysis: This is a classic Ad Hominem or 'Source Character' flaw. William is attacking Pliny's general credibility rather than addressing the specific claim about rainbows. Just because someone is wrong about dog-headed people doesn't mean they are wrong about basic meteorology. Look for an answer that points out the error of rejecting a specific claim based solely on the unreliability of the person making it. It's a bit like saying a chef can't tell you the time because they once burnt a soufflé—the two things aren't necessarily related.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage1.William's argument against Anna's claims about rainbows is most vulnerable to criticism because it
Correct Answer
C
It identifies the ad hominem-by-association move: inferring that because Pliny made some incorrect assertions, his assertion about rainbows must also be incorrect. That attacks the source’s track record instead of engaging the rainbow claim itself.
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