LSAT Explanation PT 44, S4, Q11: It is easy to see that

LSAT Question Stem

The argument's reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is a Flaw question, which means we need to identify the flaw in the argument's reasoning.

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The argument states that the board of directors of the construction company is full of corruption and should be replaced because there are instances of bribery by various persons on the staff of board member Wagston. This is a matter of public record, and these bribes influenced the awarding of government contracts. In this argument, the premise is the instances of bribery by Wagston's staff, and the conclusion is that the entire board is corrupt and should be replaced.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Are the instances of bribery by Wagston's staff representative of the entire board's behavior?"

Now, let's discuss each answer choice:

a) the argument fails to show that corruption is not limited to Wagston's staff

- This is the correct answer choice. The argument is flawed because it assumes that the actions of some members of Wagston's staff can be attributed to the entire board without any logical justification for this leap.

b) the argument fails to show that Wagston's staff engaged in any bribery other than bribery of government officials

- This answer choice is incorrect because the possibility that Wagston's staff bribed more people is not harmful to the argument. The argument's flaw lies in its generalization from Wagston's staff to the entire board, not in the scope of bribery.

c) the argument fails to specify the relation between bribery and corruption

- This answer choice is incorrect because bribery and corruption are related by definition. Bribery is a form of corruption, so there is no need to specify their relationship in this argument.

d) the argument presumes without giving justification that all of Wagston's staff have engaged in corruption

- This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not claim that every single staff member is corrupt. The flaw in the argument is the generalization from Wagston's staff to the entire board, not within Wagston's staff itself.

e) the argument attempts to deflect attention away from substantive issues by attacking the character of the board

- This answer choice is incorrect because the board's alleged corruption is a substantive issue in the argument. A character attack involves using "bad character" as an avoidance strategy to sidestep the actual point or issue. In this case, the argument is not doing that; it is focusing on the board's corruption as the main point.