LSAT Explanation PT 23, S2, Q21: The cities of Oldtown and Spoonville

LSAT Question Stem

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The argument states that since Oldtown and Spoonville have the same area and population size, and Oldtown has widespread health problems caused by crowded living conditions, Spoonville must also have these widespread health problems. The structure of the argument is:

Premise 1: Oldtown and Spoonville have the same area and population size.

Premise 2: Oldtown has widespread health problems caused by crowded living conditions.

Conclusion: Spoonville must also have widespread health problems.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be, "Are the living conditions in Oldtown and Spoonville similar in terms of crowding?"

Now, let's look at the question type and answer choices. The question type is Flaw, which asks us to identify the vulnerability in the argument's reasoning.

a) This answer choice is incorrect because it actually contradicts the argument. The argument states that health problems in Oldtown are caused by crowded living conditions, so it does not presuppose that health problems cannot be caused by living conditions.

b) This answer choice is also incorrect because the argument does not fail to distinguish between the size of the total population and the size of the geographic region. It acknowledges both factors in the premise that Oldtown and Spoonville have the same area and population size.

c) This answer choice is out of scope, as the argument does not discuss average life expectancy in relation to crowded living conditions.

d) This answer choice is also out of scope, as the argument does not discuss the treatability of the health problems in question.

e) This is the correct answer. The argument fails to consider that even though Oldtown and Spoonville have the same overall population density, their living conditions could still be very different. For example, Oldtown might have a high concentration of people living in a small area, leading to overcrowded conditions and health problems, while Spoonville might have a more even distribution of people across its area, leading to less crowding and fewer health problems. The argument assumes that having the same overall population density means that the living conditions must be the same, but this is not necessarily the case.