carcass wrote:
A newspaper article in the Smithville Herald argued that the strength of unions was declining. The article’s evidence was the decreasing number and size of strikes as though the reason for the unions’ existence was to organize strikes. Surely, in a modern industrial society, the calling of a strike is evidence that the negotiating position of the union was too weak. Strong unions do not need to call strikes. They can concentrate their efforts on working with others in the labor market to achieve common goals, such as profitable and humane working conditions.
The argument criticizing the newspaper article employs which one of the following strategies?
(A) Questioning the accuracy of the statistical evidence that the newspaper article uses
(B) Detailing historical changes that make the newspaper articles’ analysis outdated
(C) Reinterpreting evidence that the newspaper article uses as indicating the opposite of what the newspaper concludes
(D) Arguing that the newspaper article’s conclusion is motivated by a desire to change the role of unions
(E) Pointing to common interests among unions and management
Source : LSAT PrepTest36 Q24
A newspaper article on Britain’s unions argued that their strength was declining. The article’s evidence was the decreasing number and size of strikes, as if the reason for the unions’ existence was to organize strikes. Surely, in a modern industrial society, the calling of a strike is evidence that the negotiating position of the union was too weak. Strong unions do not need to call strikes. They can concentrate their efforts on working with others in the labor market to achieve common goals, such as profitable and humane working conditions.
24. The argument criticizing the newspaper article employs which one of the following strategies?
(A) questioning the accuracy of the statistical evidence that the newspaper article uses
(B) detailing historical changes that make the newspaper article’s analysis outdated
(C) reinterpreting evidence that the newspaper article uses as indicating the opposite of what the newspaper concludes
(D) arguing that the newspaper article’s conclusion is motivated by a desire to change the role of unions
(E) pointing to common interests among unions and management which the newspaper article ignores
Quote:
The newspaper concludes that unions are declining in strength. The evidence put forward by the newspaper is the declining number and size of strikes. The author takes this same piece of evidence and twists it around to imply the denial of the conclusion. The author uses the fact that there are fewer and smaller strikes to suggest that the unions are not weaker and may in fact be stronger. This is perfectly summarized in answer choice (C).
(A) is not true. The author doesn't question the evidence, just the conclusion reached from it.
(B) states something that never happened. It's not that the evidence the newspaper used is outdated, rather, the author states that it leads to a different conclusion.
(C) is correct for the reasons above.
(D) states something that never happened. The author does not question the motivations of the newspaper article's conclusion.
(E) mentions common interests between unions and management. The author mentions common interests between unions and others. Not exactly the same thing!
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION FROM KAPLAN
Method of ArgumentCome up with your own prediction of a method of argument answer before you get bogged down in the choices.
(C) has it right: The author takes the very evidence (few and tiny strikes) used by the paper to belittle unions, and shows that it can speak to unions’ strength.
Far from questioning the evidence’s accuracy (A) the author accepts it and uses it to his own ends. The author’s evidence is interpretive rather than historical (B) and no hint of “outdatedness” appears. In questioning the article’s conclusion the author does not impugn its writer’s motives (D) nor does he need to; (E) seems to put its toe in the water of impugning motives as well.
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