Flawed ReasoningDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Because the highly educated priests were good at math, we can assume every regular person in the Mayan empire was also a math whiz.
Conclusion: The general Mayan population had a strong grasp of sophisticated mathematical concepts.
Reasoning: The writings of Mayan religious scribes demonstrate a high degree of mathematical competence.
Analysis: This argument suffers from a sampling flaw, specifically a part-to-whole error. It assumes that because a specialized, elite group (the scribes) possessed a skill, that skill was common among the entire population. It's like assuming everyone in a city is a professional athlete just because the local basketball team is in the playoffs. Look for an answer that points out the scribes are likely not representative of the average Mayan citizen.
Conclusion: The general Mayan population had a strong grasp of sophisticated mathematical concepts.
Reasoning: The writings of Mayan religious scribes demonstrate a high degree of mathematical competence.
Analysis: This argument suffers from a sampling flaw, specifically a part-to-whole error. It assumes that because a specialized, elite group (the scribes) possessed a skill, that skill was common among the entire population. It's like assuming everyone in a city is a professional athlete just because the local basketball team is in the playoffs. Look for an answer that points out the scribes are likely not representative of the average Mayan citizen.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage8.The argument's reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument
Correct Answer
B
The reasoning generalizes about the entire population’s mathematical grasp from the writings of religious scribes, a group likely not representative of the general populace. That’s an unrepresentative sample.
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