LSAT Explanation PT 22, S2, Q25: A recent survey showed that 50

LSAT Question Stem

The reasoning above is flawed because it 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is a Flaw question, which asks us to identify the flaw in the reasoning of the argument presented in the passage.

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage:

Premise: 50% of people believe elected officials should resign if indicted for a crime.

Premise: 35% of people believe elected officials should resign only if convicted of a crime.

Conclusion: More people believe that elected officials should resign if indicted than believe they should resign if convicted.

The argument is flawed because it compares two different types of conditions: a sufficient condition (indicted) and a necessary condition (convicted). To better understand this, imagine a simple example: 50% of people believe it's enough to wear a coat if it's cold outside, while 35% believe you should wear a coat only if it's snowing. Comparing these two percentages is illogical because they are about different conditions.

Now, let's evaluate the answer choices:

a) The argument does not draw a conclusion about the population in general based only on a sample of that population. The percentages are given for the entire population, so this choice is incorrect.

b) This is the correct answer choice. The argument confuses a sufficient condition (indicted) with a required condition (convicted), making it impossible to compare the two percentages.

c) The argument is not based on an ambiguity of any of its terms. This choice is incorrect.

d) The argument does not draw a conclusion about a specific belief based on responses to queries about two different specific beliefs. The conclusion is about the comparison of the percentages, not about a third specific belief. This choice is incorrect.

e) The argument does not contain premises that cannot all be true. The percentages given are not contradictory, but the conclusion is flawed because it compares two different types of conditions. This choice is incorrect.

In conclusion, the correct answer is (b) because the argument confuses a sufficient condition with a required condition, making the comparison of the two percentages illogical.