LSAT 114 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q8

LR Question 8 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Books updating the classification systems used by many libraries…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Frequent changes in classifications systems are just a ploy by publishers to make libraries buy their products.

REASONING: Books updating the classification systems are expensive. The only way to sell them is to make potential buyers believe that they need the most recent system.

ANALYSIS: We have no idea how library classifications work. Maybe they do need frequent updates even though they cost a lot. The stimulus makes an assumption about book publishers’ motives but it doesn’t provide any evidence.

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1. The stimulus didn’t actually say that the books are unreasonably expensive. It just said that they are expensive (it could be they cost a lot to produce.)
2. CORRECT. There could be some other motive. Maybe in the fast paced library world there is a need for constant change. 
3. Presumably the same reasoning would apply to all potential buyers of these books. The stimulus would argue that neither libraries nor any other buyer needs such frequent updates.
4. This goes too far. The stimulus just argued that the changes occur too often. But there will be a need to change things now and again.
5. The argument claims that libraries shouldn’t be buying these books. We can’t really accuse the stimulus of claiming that libraries should buy every book.