Flawed ReasoningDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: The mayor claims we have only two choices: build his new highway or watch the city's traffic freeze up entirely. Since gridlock is bad, he insists his highway is the only way forward.
Conclusion: The city council must approve the mayor's specific plan for a new expressway.
Reasoning: The only two options are the mayor's plan or doing nothing, and doing nothing is unacceptable because it will lead to total traffic gridlock.
Analysis: The mayor is using a classic 'False Dilemma' by limiting the options to just two extremes. He ignores the possibility of other solutions, such as improving public transit, widening existing roads, or implementing a different traffic plan entirely. To identify the flaw, we must focus on the structure of the mayor's ultimatum. Look for an answer choice that criticizes the mayor for failing to consider alternative ways to solve the traffic problem beyond his own specific proposal.
Conclusion: The city council must approve the mayor's specific plan for a new expressway.
Reasoning: The only two options are the mayor's plan or doing nothing, and doing nothing is unacceptable because it will lead to total traffic gridlock.
Analysis: The mayor is using a classic 'False Dilemma' by limiting the options to just two extremes. He ignores the possibility of other solutions, such as improving public transit, widening existing roads, or implementing a different traffic plan entirely. To identify the flaw, we must focus on the structure of the mayor's ultimatum. Look for an answer choice that criticizes the mayor for failing to consider alternative ways to solve the traffic problem beyond his own specific proposal.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage1.The reasoning in the mayor's argument is most vulnerable to which one of the following criticisms?
Correct Answer
E
E identifies the false dilemma: the argument limits the choice to two options and offers no reason to exclude other plausible measures to handle traffic. Since eliminating “do nothing” doesn’t by itself justify “build the expressway,” the argument is vulnerable for not considering other options.
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