LSAT Explanation PT 25, S2, Q2: No one wants this job as

LSAT Question Stem

The flawed reasoning in the argument above most closely parallels that in which one of the following? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Parallel Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The passage states that no one wants the job as much as Joshua does, but he is not applying for it. It then concludes that there will not be any applicants, no matter how high the salary that is being offered. The structure of the argument is:

Premise: No one wants this job as much as Joshua does.

Premise: Joshua is not applying for the job.

Conclusion: There will not be any applicants, no matter how high the salary that is being offered.

The flaw in this argument is that just because the person who wants something the most isn't interested, it doesn't mean that someone else won't be. An "Evaluate" question for this argument would be: "Are there other people who want the job, even if they don't want it as much as Joshua?"

Now, let's discuss the question type and answer choices. The question type is Parallel Flaw (PF), which asks us to identify the answer choice that contains reasoning that most closely parallels the flawed reasoning in the passage.

a) This answer choice is flawed in a different manner. Just because Beth is the best at spotting errors in programs does not give us the right to conclude that the computer program part she checked is free of errors.

b) This answer choice is the closest of all the wrong ones. However, it is different from the passage in that it says all we can do is hope to find someone else, while the passage states there will be NO applicants.

c) This is the correct answer. The argument in this choice states that Manfred has the strongest motive of anyone to buy land, but he will not pursue buying it, and therefore, no one will buy the land. This closely parallels the flawed reasoning in the passage.

d) This answer choice is incorrect because it talks about redoubling efforts, which is not relevant to the flaw in the passage.

e) This answer choice is completely unrelated to the passage's flawed reasoning and can be dismissed.

In conclusion, the correct answer is C, as it closely parallels the flawed reasoning in the passage, which assumes that just because the person who wants something the most isn't interested, no one else will be.