Flawed ReasoningDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: The author claims a waste disposal plan is bad for the fishing industry simply because a lot of people signed a petition saying they don't like it.
Conclusion: The proposed plan for disposing of contaminated waste will negatively impact commercial fishing.
Reasoning: A petition against the plan and in favor of an alternative was signed by more than 20,000 individuals.
Analysis: This argument suffers from a classic 'appeal to popularity' flaw, where the author confuses public opinion with scientific or economic fact. Just because 20,000 people are worried about the fishing industry doesn't actually mean the fishing industry is in danger. It is quite a leap to assume that petition signers are experts on environmental impact or commercial fishing yields. Look for an answer that points out the logic fails to provide objective evidence of harm, relying instead on the mere sentiments of a crowd.
Conclusion: The proposed plan for disposing of contaminated waste will negatively impact commercial fishing.
Reasoning: A petition against the plan and in favor of an alternative was signed by more than 20,000 individuals.
Analysis: This argument suffers from a classic 'appeal to popularity' flaw, where the author confuses public opinion with scientific or economic fact. Just because 20,000 people are worried about the fishing industry doesn't actually mean the fishing industry is in danger. It is quite a leap to assume that petition signers are experts on environmental impact or commercial fishing yields. Look for an answer that points out the logic fails to provide objective evidence of harm, relying instead on the mere sentiments of a crowd.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage10.Which one of the following most accurately describes a reasoning flaw in the letter's argument?
Correct Answer
D
The argument relies on petitions—testimony from people not shown to have relevant expertise—to conclude the approach would damage commercial fishing operations. That’s reliance on non-expert testimony.
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