LSAT 134 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q4

LR Question 4 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Journalist: A manufacturers’ trade group that has long…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: Bruch Industries isn’t a member.

REASONING: Bruch Industries isn’t on the list. Every company on the list is a member.

On list ➞ Member

ANALYSIS: Let’s say I give you a list of 100,000,000 US citizens. Does that mean anyone not on the list isn’t American?

Obviously not, there are over 200,000,000 other Americans. The journalist’s list is accurate, but it might not be complete.

The flaw here is negating the sufficient condition.

___________

1. Why do we care what Bruch Industries wants? We only need to know whether or not they are in the trade group.
2. CORRECT. The list might only include half of the organization’s members. No one said the list was complete.
3. Who cares why the journalist has the list? We only need to know whether it is accurate and complete.
4. The argument claims Bruch Industries isn’t a member. So how could this answer be a flaw in the argument? This answer says Bruch is a member.
   Also, it might not up to the members to say whether they are members. It could be group policy that no one can reveal their membership, even if they want to.
5. The representative could be lying, but it doesn’t matter. Whether or not the list is accurate, it can’t prove that Bruch isn’t a member. Even if the list is accurate, the argument is still bad.