Bunuel wrote:
Sociologist: The claim that there is a large number of violent crimes in our society is false, for this claim is based upon the large number of stories in newspapers about violent crimes. But since violent crimes are very rare occurrences, newspapers are likely to print stories about them.
The sociologist’s argument is flawed because it
(A) presupposes that most newspaper stories are about violent crime
(B) presupposes the truth of the conclusion it is attempting to establish
(C) assumes without warrant that the newspaper stories in question are not biased
(D) mistakes property of each member of a group taken as an individual for a property of the group taken as a whole
(E) uncritically draws an inference from what has been true in the past to what will be true in the future
The sociologist says, the claim, that is a large number of crimes in our society is false, because this claim is based on the large number of violent crime stories in the newspaper.
But since there are very few violent crimes, newspapers print a large number of stories about them.
The portion is bold is what the Sociologist wants to prove. But she ends up assuming that instead.
Options:
(A) presupposes that most newspaper stories are about violent crime :
Sociologist talks of large number of violent crime stories in newspaper NOT most newspapers story being about violent crime.INCORRECT.(B)presupposes the truth of the conclusion it is attempting to establish :
CORRECT.Sociologist does assume that Violent crimes are a very rare occurrence. (C) assumes without warrant that the newspaper stories in question are not biased :
irrelevant INCORRECT.(D) mistakes property of each member of a group taken as an individual for a property of the group taken as a whole :
irrelevant Not the kind of flaw here.INCORRECT. (E) uncritically draws an inference from what has been true in the past to what will be true in the future :
irrelevant Not the kind of flaw here. INCORRECT.