LSAT Explanation PT 27, S1, Q25: When interviewing job candidates, personnel managers

LSAT Question Stem

The argument is flawed because it overlooks each of the following possibilities EXCEPT: 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The passage discusses personnel managers who inquire about job candidates' hobbies during interviews. They believe that enthusiasm for a hobby might carry over to enthusiasm for a job. However, the author argues that such enthusiasm could also indicate that the candidate is less concerned with work than with play, and therefore, personnel managers should not inquire about a candidate's hobbies.

The structure of the argument is as follows:

1. Premise: Personnel managers inquire about hobbies because they believe enthusiasm for a hobby might carry over to enthusiasm for a job.

2. Premise: Enthusiasm for a hobby may also indicate less concern with work than with play.

3. Conclusion: Personnel managers should not inquire about a candidate's hobbies.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Do the potential benefits of inquiring about a candidate's hobbies outweigh the potential drawbacks?"

Now, let's identify the question type and what it's asking us to do. This is a Flaw question, asking us to find the answer choice that does NOT reflect a flaw in the argument. In other words, we are looking for an answer choice that does not undermine the conclusion that personnel managers should not inquire about hobbies.

a) This answer choice suggests that inquiring about hobbies could reveal a candidate's capacity for long-term commitments, which would be a valuable insight for personnel managers. This undermines the conclusion, so it is not the correct answer.

b) This answer choice states that candidates who have no hobbies may pretend to have one when asked in an interview. This supports the conclusion that personnel managers should not inquire about hobbies, as they might not get useful or honest information. This is the correct answer.

c) This answer choice suggests that asking about hobbies might put candidates at ease and lead to more honest responses for other questions. This undermines the conclusion, so it is not the correct answer.

d) This answer choice implies that having certain hobbies may indicate good organizational skills, which would be important for job performance. This undermines the conclusion, so it is not the correct answer.

e) This answer choice argues that personnel managers may make better choices among candidates if they are not restricted from asking particular types of questions, including hobbies. This undermines the conclusion, so it is not the correct answer.

Thus, the correct answer is B, as it is the only choice that does not reflect a flaw in the argument and does not undermine the conclusion that personnel managers should not inquire about a candidate's hobbies.