Alice: Quotas on automobile imports to the United States should be eli

Question

Alice: Quotas on automobile imports to the United States should be eliminated. Then domestic producers would have to compete directly with Japanese manufacturers and would be forced to produce higher-quality cars. Such competition would be good for consumers.

David: You fail to realize, Alice, that quotas on automobile imports are pervasive worldwide. Since German, Britain, and France have quotas, so should the United States.

Which one of the following most accurately characterizes David’s response to Alice’s statement?

(A) David falsely accuses Alice of contradicting herself.
(B) David unfairly directs his argument against Alice personally.
(C) David uncovers a hidden assumption underlying Alice’s position.
(D) David takes a position that is similar to the one Alice has taken.
(E) David fails to address the reasons Alice cites in favor of her conclusion.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Official Explanation

In responding to Alice’s argument, David commits the true-but-irrelevant fallacy. The tactic is quite simple: the arguer bases a conclusion on information that is true but not relevant to the issue. Alice’s argument is that quotas on automobile imports should be eliminated because consumers would then benefit from the increased competition amongst manufacturers. David does not address these statements. Instead, he brings up the irrelevant fact that automobile imports are pervasive worldwide.  The answer is (E).

LIBERTYRodP · Answer

TYPE: DIALOGUE ANALYSIS

To summarize the argument, Alice states that removing quotas on automobiles would foster a more competitive market. David responds by saying that several other countries have quotas, so the US should keep them.

(A) David falsely accuses Alice of contradicting herself.  ------- David doesn't even evaluate Alice's argument.

(B) David unfairly directs his argument against Alice personally.  -------- The subject of his argument is not Alice.

(C) David uncovers a hidden assumption underlying Alice’s position.  --------- Alice position is that removing quotas results in a more competitive market. Since David says nothing regarding this conclusion, he cannot be talking about any "assumption" underlying it.

(D) David takes a position that is similar to the one Alice has taken.  ---- David does not say, nor imply, that no quotas means more competition.

(E) David fails to address the reasons Alice cites in favor of her conclusion.    -------- CORRECT. David does not take into consideration Alice's conclusion that removing quotas results in more competition.

Raman109 · Answer

Understanding the argument - 
Alice: Quotas on automobile imports to the United States should be eliminated. - Conclusion 
Then domestic producers would have to compete directly with Japanese manufacturers and would be forced to produce higher-quality cars. Such competition would be good for consumers. - Opinion + supporting premise

David: You fail to realize, Alice, that quotas on automobile imports are pervasive worldwide. - Conclusion (Challenge) 
Since German, Britain, and France have quotas, so should the United States. - Fact (but irrelevant to what Alice shared)

Which one of the following most accurately characterizes David’s response to Alice’s statement?

(A) David falsely accuses Alice of contradicting herself. - No accusation. Out of scope.
(B) David unfairly directs his argument against Alice personally. - Out of scope.
(C) David uncovers a hidden assumption underlying Alice’s position. - Alice assumes that the competition is good. But David's argument is not on the same lines and doesn't cover any underlying assumption. 
(D) David takes a position that is similar to the one Alice has taken. - Alice intends that completion is good, and David's argument is in the opposite direction. So it's the opposite of what we need. 
(E) David fails to address the reasons Alice cites in favor of her conclusion. - Ok

VerbalBot · Answer

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Alice: Quotas on automobile imports to the United States should be eli

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