Flawed ReasoningDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: A critic argues that we should leave nature alone because helping one struggling animal species always ends up making life harder for the ones that are doing fine.
Conclusion: Wildlife management experts should avoid manipulating natural habitats entirely.
Reasoning: Any environmental change made to help an endangered species will inevitably have a negative impact on species that are not endangered.
Analysis: The flaw here is an 'all or nothing' overgeneralization. The author assumes that because an action has a negative side effect on one group, the action is automatically unjustified. This ignores the possibility that the benefit of saving an endangered species might outweigh the harm done to nonendangered ones. Look for an answer that points out this failure to consider the relative importance of the outcomes or the possibility of an overall net benefit.
Conclusion: Wildlife management experts should avoid manipulating natural habitats entirely.
Reasoning: Any environmental change made to help an endangered species will inevitably have a negative impact on species that are not endangered.
Analysis: The flaw here is an 'all or nothing' overgeneralization. The author assumes that because an action has a negative side effect on one group, the action is automatically unjustified. This ignores the possibility that the benefit of saving an endangered species might outweigh the harm done to nonendangered ones. Look for an answer that points out this failure to consider the relative importance of the outcomes or the possibility of an overall net benefit.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage16.The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it
Correct Answer
E
E identifies the missing priority assumption: the argument assumes, without argument, that keeping nonendangered species from being harmed takes precedence over preserving an endangered species—exactly what’s needed to move from the premise to the “should not interfere” conclusion.
Upgrade Your Prep
Ready to go beyond free explanations?
LSAT Perfection is the #1 modern LSAT prep platform, trusted by thousands of students for comprehensive test strategies, advanced drilling, and full analytics on every PrepTest.
Detailed explanations for 59 PrepTests
Advanced drillset builder
Personalized analytics
Built-in Wrong Answer Journal