LSAT Explanation PT 41, S1, Q1: Because the statement "all gray rabbits

LSAT Question Stem

The reasoning above is flawed because it fails to recognize that 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The argument is structured as follows:

Premise: The statement "all gray rabbits are rabbits" is true.

Conclusion: It follows by analogy that the statement "all suspected criminals are criminals" is also true.

The argument's reasoning is flawed because it uses an analogy that doesn't apply. To understand this better, let's simplify the example. Imagine we have a box of apples, and we know that all green apples are apples. It doesn't necessarily mean that all apples we suspect to be green are actually green. We might suspect an apple to be green, but it could turn out to be red.

Now, let's move on to the question. The question type is Flaw, and it asks us to identify the flaw in the reasoning above.

Let's go through the answer choices:

a) This answer choice mixes up the relationships discussed in the argument. The argument never discusses a relationship between being a criminal and being a rabbit.

b) This answer choice also mixes up the relationships discussed in the argument. The argument never discusses a relationship between being suspected and being a rabbit.

c) This answer choice correctly identifies the flaw in the argument. The relationship between being a gray rabbit and being a rabbit is not the same as that between being a suspected criminal and being a criminal. In the case of gray rabbits, the characteristic "gray" actually exists. However, being a "suspected criminal" doesn't necessarily imply that one is a criminal.

d) This answer choice attacks an assumption that is never made. The argument never assumed that all rabbits are gray.

e) This answer choice attacks an assumption that is never made. The argument never assumed that all criminals are suspected.

So, the correct answer is C.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Are the relationships between being a gray rabbit and being a rabbit and between being a suspected criminal and being a criminal the same?"

I hope this explanation helps you understand the flaw in the argument and why answer choice C is the correct one.