LSAT 119 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q14

LR Question 14 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Some critics claim that the power of the media to impose opinions…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: The power of the media to impose opinions on people is not too great.

REASONING: The power of the media would be too great if the range of opinion purveyed was less than the range of opinion of consumers. Since this is false, then the power must not be too great.

ANALYSIS: This is an incorrect negation. Negating a sufficient condition does not allow us to eliminate a necessary condition. For instance, I cannot say: “If it were snowing outside, I would be cold. But it is not snowing; therefore I’m not cold.” There is more than one way to feel cold.

Here, the sufficient condition is: “narrow range of opinion” “too much power.” The argument claimed that negating the first condition proved the second didn’t exist. This is a bad argument, as the media could be too powerful for another reason.

___________

1. No. If you can’t identify what the stimulus says about critics, this cannot be correct.
2. Tempting, but incorrect. The argument doesn’t actually make this claim. It only claims that the range of opinion broadcast is not narrower than the range of views held by consumers. That is a different concept than giving as much exposure to a wide range of views as they should.
3. CORRECT. This is a fancy way of saying “incorrect negation.” But it’s correct; proving a sufficient condition wrong does not prove that the necessary condition is also false.
4. Answer this question: “The argument appeals to popular opinion by saying ______.” If you can’t, don’t pick this answer choice.
5. Like D, this isn’t even true. Finish this sentence: “The argument argues it is desirable for the media to reflect a wide range of popular opinion because it says ____________.”

Recap: The question begins with “Some critics claim that the power of the media to impose opinions”. It is a Flawed Reasoning question. Learn more about LSAT Flaw questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.