Flawed ReasoningDiff: Hardest
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: A commentator argues that a specific columnist is making politics more divided because she attacks her opponents to keep her fans happy.
Conclusion: Roehmer's column has a polarizing effect on national politics.
Reasoning: She takes partisan stances and attacks the motives of her opponents, which alienates people rather than changing their minds.
Analysis: The argument assumes that because her style is polarizing and her intent is to please her base, the actual result must be a polarizing effect on national politics. This is a potential flaw because it assumes the columnist's behavior is a significant driver of national trends, rather than just a symptom of them. It’s a bit like blaming a single loud fan for the noise level of an entire stadium. Look for an answer that points out the argument fails to consider other causes or confuses the columnist's personal style with her actual impact on the country.
Conclusion: Roehmer's column has a polarizing effect on national politics.
Reasoning: She takes partisan stances and attacks the motives of her opponents, which alienates people rather than changing their minds.
Analysis: The argument assumes that because her style is polarizing and her intent is to please her base, the actual result must be a polarizing effect on national politics. This is a potential flaw because it assumes the columnist's behavior is a significant driver of national trends, rather than just a symptom of them. It’s a bit like blaming a single loud fan for the noise level of an entire stadium. Look for an answer that points out the argument fails to consider other causes or confuses the columnist's personal style with her actual impact on the country.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage22.The reasoning in the commentator's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument
Correct Answer
E
E is correct because the commentator objects to impugning motives as a polarizing tactic yet then impugns Roehmer’s motives by claiming her column is “just” an attempt to please loyal readers, employing the very tactic criticized.
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