LSAT Explanation PT 36, S1, Q12: The consumer price index is a

LSAT Question Stem

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to the criticism 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

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The passage discusses the consumer price index (CPI), which measures changes in retail prices of goods and services. Government retirement benefits are based on the CPI to reflect the change in the cost of living. However, the CPI does not consider technological innovations that may reduce the cost of producing some goods. The conclusion of the argument is that the value of government benefits is sometimes greater than warranted by the true change in costs.

In this argument, the premises are:

1. The CPI measures changes in retail prices of goods and services.

2. Government retirement benefits are based on the CPI.

3. The CPI does not consider technological innovations that may reduce the cost of producing some goods.

The conclusion is:

The value of government benefits is sometimes greater than warranted by the true change in costs.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Do changes in production costs directly affect the retail prices of goods and services?"

Now, let's discuss the question type and the answer choices. The question type is a Flaw question, asking us to identify the vulnerability in the argument's reasoning.

a) This answer choice is incorrect because it doesn't affect the argument. Even if there are years with no change in the CPI, it doesn't change the fact that the CPI doesn't consider technological innovations that may reduce production costs.

b) This answer choice is incorrect because the argument doesn't need to specify which goods and services are included in the CPI. The focus of the argument is on the fact that the CPI doesn't consider technological innovations that may reduce production costs, not on the specific goods and services.

c) This answer choice is incorrect because the argument doesn't distinguish between usual and unusual goods. The argument is about the CPI not considering technological innovations that may reduce production costs for some goods, regardless of whether they are common or unusual.

d) This answer choice is incorrect because the argument doesn't make any predictions about the future or refer to the past. The argument is focused on the present situation of the CPI and government retirement benefits.

e) This answer choice is correct because the argument makes an irrelevant shift from discussing retail prices to discussing production costs. The CPI is based on retail prices, and the government benefits are tied to the cost of living, which is shaped by retail prices. The argument's conclusion is weakened by the fact that it shifts its focus from retail prices to production costs, which are not directly related to the cost of living or the CPI.

In summary, the correct answer is E, as the argument makes an irrelevant shift from discussing retail prices to discussing production costs, which weakens its conclusion.