LSAT Explanation PT 30, S4, Q16: Sales manager: The highest priority should

LSAT Question Stem

The shipping manager criticizes the sales manager's argument by pointing out 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Method of Reasoning question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The sales manager presents a premise that without successful sales, the company would fail, and concludes that the highest priority should be given to the needs of the sales department. The shipping manager responds with a premise that there are several departments other than sales that also must function successfully for the company to succeed, and concludes that it is impossible to give the highest priority to all of them. The sales manager's argument has an assumption that a department's necessity earns it the highest priority.

The question type is Main Point of Reasoning (MOR), which asks us to identify the shipping manager's criticism of the sales manager's argument. The correct answer is D.

Now, let's discuss each answer choice:

a) This answer choice is incorrect because the shipping manager does not claim that the sales department taken by itself is not critical to the company's success as a whole. In fact, the shipping manager acknowledges that sales are necessary for the company's success but points out that other departments are also necessary.

b) This answer choice is incorrect because there is no ambiguity in the term "highest priority." The meaning is explicit and used the same way by both the sales manager and the shipping manager.

c) This answer choice is incorrect because the shipping manager does not claim that departments other than sales are more vital to the company's success. Instead, the shipping manager argues that there are other departments that are also necessary for the company's success.

d) This answer choice is correct. The shipping manager criticizes the sales manager's argument by pointing out an absurd consequence of its apparent assumption that a department's necessity earns it the highest priority. The shipping manager highlights that if this assumption were true, then multiple departments would have to be given the highest priority, which is impossible.

e) This answer choice is incorrect because neither the sales manager nor the shipping manager mentions a generalization from an atypical case. The sales manager's argument is not based on an over-extrapolation from an aberration, and the shipping manager does not point out any such error in reasoning.

In summary, the shipping manager criticizes the sales manager's argument by pointing out the absurd consequence of its assumption that a department's necessity earns it the highest priority (Answer choice D). The shipping manager acknowledges the necessity of the sales department but argues that other departments are also necessary for the company's success, making it impossible to give the highest priority to all of them.