LSAT Explanation PT 42, S2, Q24: Advertisement: Our oat bran cereal is

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following employs a flawed argumentative strategy that is most closely parallel to the flawed argumentative strategy in the advertisement above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Parallel Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Parallel Flaw (PF), which means we are looking for an answer choice that contains a similar flawed reasoning as the one in the passage.

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. It's structured as follows:

1. Premise: The oat bran cereal has printed health claims on its package.

2. Premise: Health-conscious consumers buy the cereal.

3. Conclusion: The health claims on the cereal package must be true.

The flaw in this argument is circular reasoning. The passage assumes that health-conscious consumers buy the cereal because the claims are true, and then uses their purchase as evidence that the claims are true. This is like saying, "People like me because I'm funny, and the fact that they like me proves I'm funny." The argument goes around in circles and doesn't provide any solid evidence.

Now, let's evaluate the answer choices to find the one that employs a similar flawed argumentative strategy:

a) This answer choice is not circular reasoning. It introduces a new condition—consistent politeness—that is not present in the original argument.

b) This answer choice is the correct one, as it reflects circular reasoning similar to the passage. The argument is: the card game is intellectually challenging because intelligent people play it, and the fact that they play the game is what makes them intelligent. This is another example of circular reasoning that doesn't prove anything.

c) There is no circular reasoning in this answer choice. In fact, the argument seems valid, so it cannot be the parallel flaw we're looking for.

d) This answer choice also presents valid reasoning, so it cannot provide the flawed parallel that we seek.

e) This answer choice, like (C) and (D), presents valid argumentation—those people clearly have vision problems—so it's not the flawed parallel reasoning present in the correct answer choice.

In conclusion, the correct answer choice is (B) because it employs a flawed argumentative strategy that is most closely parallel to the flawed argumentative strategy in the advertisement.