LSAT Explanation PT 22, S4, Q18: Coach: Our team has often been

LSAT Question Stem

The coach's argument is most vulnerable to the charge that 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.

First, let's break down the argument and label its parts. The coach is defending their team's enthusiasm in response to successes and opponents' failures. The critics claim that the team's behavior is unprofessional. The coach argues that this behavior is not unprofessional because professional players in the sport are even more effusive. Thus, the coach concludes that the critics should leave the team alone and let the players enjoy the game. The main conclusion here is that the critics should leave the team alone.

Now, let's think of an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Does the behavior of professional players accurately represent what is considered professional behavior?"

Let's discuss each answer choice in detail:

a) misleadingly equates enthusiasm with unethical play - This answer choice is not the main flaw in the argument. The coach does not necessarily equate enthusiasm with unethical play; rather, they argue that the team's behavior is not unprofessional because professional players are even more effusive. This choice does not address the confusion between the two senses of "professional."

b) misinterprets the critics' claim that the team is unprofessional - This is the correct answer choice. The coach confuses the two senses of "professional" when they equate the behavior of professional players with what is considered professional behavior. The coach misinterprets the critics' claim, whether deliberately or out of ignorance.

c) too quickly generalizes from the sport at one level to the sport at a different level - This answer choice is not the main flaw in the argument. The coach's main flaw is confusing the two senses of "professional," not generalizing behavior from one level of the sport to another. Even if the coach does generalize too quickly, they still make the assumption that the behavior of professional players is identical to professional behavior.

d) shifts the blame for the team's behavior to professional players - This answer choice is incorrect because the coach does not shift blame. The coach argues that the team's behavior is acceptable and does not need to be blamed on anyone.

e) takes everyone on the team to have performed the actions of a few - This answer choice is also incorrect. The coach does not assume that a few professional players represent the behavior of all professionals. Even if they did make that assumption, they would still need to equate the two senses of "professional" to make their conclusion.

In summary, the correct answer is (b) because the coach misinterprets the critics' claim that the team is unprofessional by confusing the two senses of "professional."