LSAT 119 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q12

LR Question 12 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Several legislators claim that the public finds many current movies…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Legislators have misrepresented public opinion by claiming that the public finds current movies morally offensive.

REASONING: In a recent survey of those who see many, many movies, few thought the movies were overly violent, and even fewer found them morally offensive.

ANALYSIS: The survey uses a biased sample. If you found movies violent and morally offensive, would you see “far more current movies than the average moviegoer”? I doubt it.

A good survey will poll the public at random, not an unrepresentative group.

___________

1. The stimulus did not attack the legislators personally.
2. Morality is inherently subjective. There is no problem with surveying people to gather information.
3. They needn’t consider this possibility, as they are arguing that movies are not excessively violent.
4. CORRECT. Yes. Heavy moviegoers probably enjoy current movies and therefore don’t find them morally offensive. People who do find movies morally offensive will stay home.
5. The argument made no such presumption. The survey questioned people who had seen recent movies.

Recap: The question begins with “Several legislators claim that the public finds many current movies”. It is a Flawed Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Flaw questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.