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Difficulty:
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Question Stats:
81% (01:56) correct
19%
(01:36)
wrong
based on 36
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The gu, the hu, and the jue are types of bronze libation vessels that were produced in China during the Shang dynasty, almost 4,000 years ago. Close examination of authentic gu, hu, and jue vessels reveals that they all bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie, a mythological beast of greed. It must be true then that any bronze libation vessel that does not bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie is not an authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty.
The argument makes which one of the following errors of reasoning?
(A) basing a generalization on claims that contradict each other
(B) basing a generalization on examples that the argument itself admits are atypical
(C) treating the fact that some members of a given category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that other objects that possess the characteristic are also members of that category
(D) treating the fact that some members of a category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that possession of the characteristic is necessary for membership in that category
(E) treating the facts that certain specific objects belong to a given category and that some other objects belonging to that category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that the former objects also possess that characteristic
The argument makes which one of the following errors of reasoning?
(A) basing a generalization on claims that contradict each other
(B) basing a generalization on examples that the argument itself admits are atypical
(C) treating the fact that some members of a given category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that other objects that possess the characteristic are also members of that category
(D) treating the fact that some members of a category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that possession of the characteristic is necessary for membership in that category
(E) treating the facts that certain specific objects belong to a given category and that some other objects belonging to that category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that the former objects also possess that characteristic
Updated on: 03 May 2026, 17:10
Originally posted by MartyMurray on 03 May 2026, 16:41.
Last edited by MartyMurray on 03 May 2026, 17:10, edited 2 times in total.
Last edited by MartyMurray on 03 May 2026, 17:10, edited 2 times in total.
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The gu, the hu, and the jue are types of bronze libation vessels that were produced in China during the Shang dynasty, almost 4,000 years ago. Close examination of authentic gu, hu, and jue vessels reveals that they all bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie, a mythological beast of greed. It must be true then that any bronze libation vessel that does not bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie is not an authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty.
This is a Logical Flaw question. So, key to getting it correct will be to note the conclusion of the argument and how the argument works.
Conclusion:
It must be true then that any bronze libation vessel that does not bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie is not an authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty.
Support for the conclusion:
Close examination of authentic gu, hu, and jue vessels reveals that they all bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie, a mythological beast of greed.
We see that the argument works by using information about three types of vessels, "they all bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie," to support a conclusion about "any bronze libation vessel that does not bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie."
What may jump out at us is that it doesn't quite make sense to conclude on the basis of the evidence provided that any bronze libation vessel that does not bear those incised patterns is not an authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty. After all, the fact that three types of vessel always have such patterns doesn't necessarily mean that all vessels produced in China at that time did.
The argument makes which one of the following errors of reasoning?
The correct answer will accurately describe a flaw in the reasoning of the argument.
(A) basing a generalization on claims that contradict each other
The conclusion of the argument is indeed a "generalization" about "any bronze libation vessel" that does not bear certain patterns.
At the same time, there are no "claims that contradict each other" in the argument.
Eliminate.
(B) basing a generalization on examples that the argument itself admits are atypical
The conclusion of the argument is indeed a "generalization" about "any bronze libation vessel" that does not bear certain patterns.
At the same time, the argument does not admit that the examples of authentic gu, hu, and jue vessels it uses are "atypical," meaning not usual.
Rather, it indicates that those examples are typical, when it says that "they ALL bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie."
Eliminate.
(C) treating the fact that some members of a given category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that other objects that possess the characteristic are also members of that category
This choice is incorrect because what it says is basically the opposite of what the argument does.
After all, the point of the argument is not that "objects that possess the characteristic" "bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie" ARE members of the category "authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty."
Rather, the point is that vessels that do not have that characteristic are NOT members of that category.
Eliminate.
(D) treating the fact that some members of a category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that possession of the characteristic is necessary for membership in that category
The argument does indeed work by "treating the fact that some members of a category," gu, hu, and jue vessels, "possess a certain characteristic," incised patterns, as evidence that possession of that characteristic is necessary for membership in the category "authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty."
After all, in concluding that vessels that do not possess those patterns must not be in that category, the argument implies that possessing those characteristics is necessary for being in that category.
Also, that the argument works in that way is a logical flaw because the fact that some vessels produced in China at that time have those patterns doesn't mean that all vessels produced in China did. So, it's not really logical to say that any vessel without those patterns must not be "an authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty."
So, this choice accurately describes how the argument is flawed.
Keep.
(E) treating the facts that certain specific objects belong to a given category and that some other objects belonging to that category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that the former objects also possess that characteristic
The argument does not work by using the fact that gu, hu, and jue vessels possess the characteristic "bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie" to support a conclusion that other objects, other vessels, "also possess that characteristic."
Rather, the conclusion is about other vessels that do not possess that characteristic.
Eliminate.
Correct answer: D
This is a Logical Flaw question. So, key to getting it correct will be to note the conclusion of the argument and how the argument works.
Conclusion:
It must be true then that any bronze libation vessel that does not bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie is not an authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty.
Support for the conclusion:
Close examination of authentic gu, hu, and jue vessels reveals that they all bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie, a mythological beast of greed.
We see that the argument works by using information about three types of vessels, "they all bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie," to support a conclusion about "any bronze libation vessel that does not bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie."
What may jump out at us is that it doesn't quite make sense to conclude on the basis of the evidence provided that any bronze libation vessel that does not bear those incised patterns is not an authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty. After all, the fact that three types of vessel always have such patterns doesn't necessarily mean that all vessels produced in China at that time did.
The argument makes which one of the following errors of reasoning?
The correct answer will accurately describe a flaw in the reasoning of the argument.
(A) basing a generalization on claims that contradict each other
The conclusion of the argument is indeed a "generalization" about "any bronze libation vessel" that does not bear certain patterns.
At the same time, there are no "claims that contradict each other" in the argument.
Eliminate.
(B) basing a generalization on examples that the argument itself admits are atypical
The conclusion of the argument is indeed a "generalization" about "any bronze libation vessel" that does not bear certain patterns.
At the same time, the argument does not admit that the examples of authentic gu, hu, and jue vessels it uses are "atypical," meaning not usual.
Rather, it indicates that those examples are typical, when it says that "they ALL bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie."
Eliminate.
(C) treating the fact that some members of a given category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that other objects that possess the characteristic are also members of that category
This choice is incorrect because what it says is basically the opposite of what the argument does.
After all, the point of the argument is not that "objects that possess the characteristic" "bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie" ARE members of the category "authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty."
Rather, the point is that vessels that do not have that characteristic are NOT members of that category.
Eliminate.
(D) treating the fact that some members of a category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that possession of the characteristic is necessary for membership in that category
The argument does indeed work by "treating the fact that some members of a category," gu, hu, and jue vessels, "possess a certain characteristic," incised patterns, as evidence that possession of that characteristic is necessary for membership in the category "authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty."
After all, in concluding that vessels that do not possess those patterns must not be in that category, the argument implies that possessing those characteristics is necessary for being in that category.
Also, that the argument works in that way is a logical flaw because the fact that some vessels produced in China at that time have those patterns doesn't mean that all vessels produced in China did. So, it's not really logical to say that any vessel without those patterns must not be "an authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty."
So, this choice accurately describes how the argument is flawed.
Keep.
(E) treating the facts that certain specific objects belong to a given category and that some other objects belonging to that category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that the former objects also possess that characteristic
The argument does not work by using the fact that gu, hu, and jue vessels possess the characteristic "bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie" to support a conclusion that other objects, other vessels, "also possess that characteristic."
Rather, the conclusion is about other vessels that do not possess that characteristic.
Eliminate.
Correct answer: D
03 May 2026, 17:00
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The gu, the hu, and the jue are types of bronze libation vessels that were produced in China during the Shang dynasty, almost 4,000 years ago. Close examination of authentic gu, hu, and jue vessels reveals that they all bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie, a mythological beast of greed. It must be true then that any bronze libation vessel that does not bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie is not an authentic vessel produced in China during the Shang dynasty.
The argument makes which one of the following errors of reasoning?
The argument shows that authentic gu, hu, and jue vessels have taotie patterns. But then it concludes that any authentic Shang bronze libation vessel must have such patterns. The mistake is treating a feature found in some examples of a category as necessary for the whole category.
(A) basing a generalization on claims that contradict each other
Wrong. The claims do not contradict each other.
(B) basing a generalization on examples that the argument itself admits are atypical
Wrong. The argument does not say gu, hu, and jue vessels are atypical.
(C) treating the fact that some members of a given category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that other objects that possess the
characteristic are also members of that category
Wrong. This describes the reverse error. The argument is not saying that vessels with taotie patterns must be authentic Shang vessels.
(D) treating the fact that some members of a category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that possession of the characteristic is necessary for membership in that category
Correct. The argument sees that some authentic Shang vessels have taotie patterns and wrongly concludes that all authentic Shang bronze libation vessels must have that feature.
(E) treating the facts that certain specific objects belong to a given category and that some other objects belonging to that category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that the former objects also possess that characteristic
Wrong. The argument is not comparing two separate groups within the category in that way.
Answer: (D)
The argument makes which one of the following errors of reasoning?
The argument shows that authentic gu, hu, and jue vessels have taotie patterns. But then it concludes that any authentic Shang bronze libation vessel must have such patterns. The mistake is treating a feature found in some examples of a category as necessary for the whole category.
(A) basing a generalization on claims that contradict each other
Wrong. The claims do not contradict each other.
(B) basing a generalization on examples that the argument itself admits are atypical
Wrong. The argument does not say gu, hu, and jue vessels are atypical.
(C) treating the fact that some members of a given category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that other objects that possess the
characteristic are also members of that category
Wrong. This describes the reverse error. The argument is not saying that vessels with taotie patterns must be authentic Shang vessels.
(D) treating the fact that some members of a category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that possession of the characteristic is necessary for membership in that category
Correct. The argument sees that some authentic Shang vessels have taotie patterns and wrongly concludes that all authentic Shang bronze libation vessels must have that feature.
(E) treating the facts that certain specific objects belong to a given category and that some other objects belonging to that category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that the former objects also possess that characteristic
Wrong. The argument is not comparing two separate groups within the category in that way.
Answer: (D)
