Flawed ReasoningDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: A company claims their soda is the best because it beat five other sodas in separate one-on-one taste tests.
Conclusion: Sparkle Cola generates a more positive consumer response than any of the five competing colas it was tested against.
Reasoning: In a study where five groups each compared Sparkle to one other cola, Sparkle was preferred by the majority in every head-to-head matchup.
Analysis: The flaw here is a mathematical and logical oversight regarding preferences. Winning a series of one-on-one matches doesn't mean you are the overall favorite of the group. For example, Sparkle could be everyone's second choice, while each 'loser' is the absolute favorite for a large minority. The argument fails to consider that 'most preferred' in a head-to-head doesn't translate to 'most preferred' in a ranked list of all six options. Look for an answer that highlights this failure to establish an absolute preference over the field.
Conclusion: Sparkle Cola generates a more positive consumer response than any of the five competing colas it was tested against.
Reasoning: In a study where five groups each compared Sparkle to one other cola, Sparkle was preferred by the majority in every head-to-head matchup.
Analysis: The flaw here is a mathematical and logical oversight regarding preferences. Winning a series of one-on-one matches doesn't mean you are the overall favorite of the group. For example, Sparkle could be everyone's second choice, while each 'loser' is the absolute favorite for a large minority. The argument fails to consider that 'most preferred' in a head-to-head doesn't translate to 'most preferred' in a ranked list of all six options. Look for an answer that highlights this failure to establish an absolute preference over the field.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage15.The reasoning in the advertisement is most vulnerable to criticism on which one of the following grounds?
Correct Answer
A
A identifies the core flaw: inferring that what’s true of the entire sample (most volunteers overall preferred Sparkle) must be true within each of the five subgroups (each competitor’s head-to-head). That leap is unwarranted and directly undercuts the conclusion that Sparkle elicits a more favorable response than any competitor tested.
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