BrainLab wrote:
Cotrell is, at best, able to write magazine articles of average quality. The most compelling piece of evidence for this are those few of the numerous articles submitted by Cotrell that are superior, since Cotrell, who is incapable of writing an article that is better than average, must obviously have plagiarized superior ones.
The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on which one of the following grounds?
(A) It simply ignores the existence of potential counterevidence.
(B) It generalizes from atypical occurrences.
(C) It presupposes what it seeks to establish
(D) It relies on the judgement of experts in a matter to which their expertise is irrelevant
(E) It infers limits on ability from a few isolated lapses in performance
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
Flaw in the Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (C)
As always, look closely at the structure of the argument—specifically the relationships between the premises and conclusion. This breakdown presents the pieces in the order given in the argument:
Conclusion: Cotrell is, at best, able to write magazine articles of average quality.
Subconclusion/ Premise: The most compelling pieces of evidence for this are those few of the numerous articles submitted by Cotrell that are superior.
Premise: Cotrell, who is incapable of writing an article that is better than average, must obviously have plagiarized superior ones.
Examine the language in the conclusion (“Cotrell is, at best, able to write magazine articles of average quality”) and the premise (“Cotrell, who is incapable of writing an article that is better than average”). The two are identical in meaning, and thus we have an argument with circular reasoning. Do not be distracted by the plagiarism argument in the middle of the text—that is a tool used to physically separate the conclusion and premise, making it harder to recognize that the two are identical.
Answer choice (A): The argument does not ignore the potential counterevidence to the conclusion. The potential counterevidence is the few articles submitted by Cotrell that are superior, and the author dismisses them by claiming they are plagiarized. Although the reasoning used to dismiss the good articles is flawed, it is an attempt to address the evidence, and thus the argument cannot be said to “simply ignore the existence of potential counterevidence.”
Answer choice (B): This answer choice describes an Overgeneralization. The answer is wrong because the argument generalizes by dismissing the atypical occurrences (the superior articles), as opposed to generalizing from them.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice, and one of several different ways to describe Circular Reasoning (note that in the first problem in this set Circular Reasoning was an incorrect answer). More often than not, when you see Circular Reasoning it will be an incorrect answer choice, but you cannot be complacent and simply assume it will be wrong every time you see it. This problem proves that it does appear as the correct answer on occasion.
Answer choice (D): This answer describes an Appeal to Authority. The answer fails the Fact Test because there is no reference to the judgment of experts.
Answer choice (E): This answer is similar to answer choice (B). The answer starts out reasonably well— “it infers limits on ability.” The argument does attempt this (depending on your definition of “infer”). But, does the argument make this inference based on a “few isolated lapses in performance?” No, the argument dismisses the few superior performances. In this sense the answer is Half Right, Half Wrong. Therefore, it is incorrect.
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close
09 Feb 2015, 10:38
45%
(medium)
38%
(01:50)
wrong 
