LOGICAL FLAW

Practice Questions

1. Politician: Hybrid cars use significantly less fuel per kilometer than nonhybrids. And fuel
produces air pollution, which contributes to a number of environmental problems. Motorists can
save money by driving cars that are more fuel efficient, and they will be encouraged to drive
hybrid cars if we make them aware of that fact. Therefore, we can help reduce the total amount
of pollution emitted by cars in this country by highlighting this advantage of hybrid cars.
Which of the following, if true, would most indicate a vulnerability of the politician's argument?
(a) People with more fuel-efficient
fuel efficient cars typically drive more than do those with less fuel-
fuel
efficient cars.
(b) Not all air pollution originates from automobiles.
(c) Hybrid cars have already begun to gain popularity.
(d) Fuel-efficient
efficient alternatives to hybrid cars will likely become available in the future.
(e) The future cost of gasoline and other other fuel cannot be predicted with absolute precision or
certainty.

2. Scientists are discussing ways to remove excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by
increasing the amount that is absorbed by plant
plant life. One plan to accomplish this is to establish
giant floating seaweed farms in the oceans. When the seaweed plants die, they will be disposed
of by being burned for fuel.
Which of the following, if true, would indicate the most serious weakness in the
t plan above?
(a) Some areas of ocean in the Southern Hemisphere do not contain sufficient nutrients to
support large seaweed farms.
(b) When a seaweed plant is burned, it releases an amount of carbon dioxide comparable to the
amount it has absorbed in its lifetime.
(c) Even if seaweed farms prove effective, some people will be reluctant to switch to this new
fuel.
(d) Each year about seven billion tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere but
only about five billion tons are absorbed by plant life.
(e) Seaweed farms would make more money by farming seaweed to sell as nutritional
supplements than by farming seaweed to sell as fuel.

3. If a person studies four hours a day for the GMAT, he will score in the top 10 percent. Every
student at Harvard Business School scored in the top 10 percent. Thus, Sarah who is studying at
Harvard Business School must have studied at least
leas four hours a day.
The reasoning in the argument above is flawed because it
(a) fails to consider that many students at Harvard studied more than four hours a day.
(b) fails to consider that studies have shown that studying one subject more than three hours
h a
day can be counterproductive.
(c) fails to consider that studying less than four hours a day may be sufficient for some people
to score in the top 10 percent.
(d) fails to consider that people who studied less than three hours a day did not get into in
Harvard.
(e) fails to consider that an additional eight hours a week of studying is an impossible burden
for most college students.

4. Some people have questioned why the Homeowners association is supporting copper's
candidacy for mayor. But if the association want a mayor who will attract more businesses to the
town' Cooper is the only candidate it could support. So, since the Association is supporting
Cooper, it must have a goal of attracting more businesses to the town.
The reasoning in the argument is in error because
(a) the reasons the Homeowners Association should want to attract more businesses to the
town are not given.
(b) the Homeowners Association could be supporting Cooper's candidacy for reasons
unrelated to attracting businesses to the town.
(c) other groups besides the Homeowners Association could be supporting Cooper's
candidacy.
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 (d) the Homeowners Association might discover that attracting more businesses to the town
would not be in the best interest of its members.
(e) Cooper might not have all of the skills that are needed by a mayor who wants to attract.

5. Automobile emissions are a significant source of air pollutants, and cars over five years old
typically generate significantly greater amounts of pollutants than newer cars. In Torinia,
Torin which
has recently built its first automobile manufacturing plant, most cars are over five years old.
Aiming to boost Torinia's economy and reduce air pollution, the government plans to introduce
incentives for Torinians to scrap their old cars every five
five years and replace them with new ones.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the likelihood that the planned
incentives, if implemented, will achieve both of the cited aims?
(a) Without the implementation of the planned incentives, most Torinians who own an old car
would be unlikely to buy a new car.
(b) Torinia's automobile plant manufactures car models that typically generate smaller
amounts of air pollutants than most similarly sized car models manufactured elsewhere.
(c) The new cars produced in Torinia are not likely to be exported to other countries.
(d) The largest source of atmospheric pollutants in Torinia is not automobile emissions, but
emissions from power plants.
(e) The manufacture and the scrapping of cars each generate
generate significant amounts of air pollutants.

6. It is often said that high rates of inflation tend to diminish people’s incentive to save and invest.
This view must be incorrect, however,
however, because people generally saved and invested more of
their income in the 1970’s when inflation rates were high than they did in the 1980’s when
inflation rates were low.
Of the following, the best criticism of the argument above is that it overlooks the possibility that
(a) all people do not respond in the same way to a given economic stimulus
(b) certain factors operating in the 1980’s but not in the 1970’s diminished people’s incentive to
save and invest
(c) the population was larger in the 1980’s than it was in the 1970’s
(d) the proponents of the view cited would stand to gain if inflation rates become lower
(e) a factor that affects people's savings behavior in a certain way could affect people’s
investment behavior quite differently

7. According to a prediction of the not-so-distant

not future published in 1940, electricity would
revolutionize agriculture. Electrodes would be inserted into the soil, and the current between
them would kill bugs and weeds and make crop plants stronger.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly indicates
indicates that the logic of the prediction above is
flawed?
(a) In order for farmers to avoid electric shock while working in the fields, the current could be
turned off at such times without diminishing the intended effects.
(b) If the proposed plan for using electricity were put into practice, farmers would save on
chemicals now being added to the soil.
(c) It cannot be taken for granted that the use of electricity is always beneficial.
(d) Since weeds are plants, electricity would affect weeds in the same way way as it would affect
crop plants.
(e) Because a planting machine would need to avoid coming into contact with the electrodes,
new parts for planting machines would need to be designed

8. On the basis of a decrease in the college-age

college age population, many colleges now anticipate
increasingly smaller freshman classes each year. Surprised by a 40 percent increase in qualified
applicants over the previous year, however, administrators at Nice College now plan to hire
more faculty for courses taken by all freshmen.
Which of the following statements about Nice College's
College s current qualified applicants, if true,
would strongly suggest that the administrators'
admini plan is flawed?
(a) A substantially higher percentage than usual plan to study for advanced degrees after
graduation from college.
(b) According to their applications, their level of participation in extracurricular activities and
varsity sportss is unusually high.

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 (c) According to their applications, none of them lives in a foreign country.
(d) A substantially lower percentage than usual rate Nice College as their first choice among
the colleges to which they are applying.
(e) A substantially lower percentage than usual list mathematics as their intended major.

9. Local phone companies have monopolies on phone service within their areas. Cable television
tel
can be transmitted via the wires that are already in place and owned by the phone companies.
Cable television companies argue that if the telephone companies were to offer cable service,
these telephone companies would have an unfair advantage, because because their cable transmissions
could be subsidized by the profits of their monopolies on phone service.
Which of the following, if true, would ease the cable companies’ fear of unfair competition?
(a) In order to use existing telephone wire, telephone companies
companies would need to modernize
their operations, a process so expensive it would virtually wipe out all profit from their
monopoly for the foreseeable future.
(b) If a phone company were to offer cable service within a particular area, it would have a
monopoly
opoly within that area.
(c) The cost of television service, whether provided by cable or telephone companies, scales;
that is, the total cost of transmission rises only marginally as more homes are added to the
network.
(d) Cable programming that offers more channels is already available through satellite dish, but
the initial cost of the dish is extremely high.
(e) Cable television will never be able to compete with the burgeoning video rental industry,
especially as more homes now have video cassette recorders than ever did before.

10. Unless tiger hunting decreases, tigers will soon be extinct in the wild.
wild. The countries in which the
tigers habitats are located are currently debating joint legislation that would ban tiger hunting.
Thus, if these countries can successfully enforce this legislation, the survival of tigers in the wild
will be ensured.
The reasoning
easoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument
(a) assumes without sufficient warrant that a ban on tiger hunting could be successfully
enforced
(b) considers the effects of hunting on tigers without also considering the effects of hunting on
other endangered animal species
(c) fails to take into account how often tiger hunters are unsuccessful in their attempts to kill
tigers
(d) neglects to consider the results of governmental attempts in the past to limit
lim tiger hunting
(e) takes the removal of an impediment to the tigers' survival as a guarantee of their survival

11. Environmentalist: Bando Inc's manufacturing process releases pollution into the atmosphere. In
order to convince the company to change processes, we will organize a boycott of the product
that represents its highest sales volume, light bulbs. Because Bando sells more light bulbs than
any other product, a boycott of light bulbs will cause the most damage to the
the company's profits.
The environmentalist's reasoning is flawed because it fails to
(a) allow for the possibility that Bando may not want to change its manufacturing process
(b) does not supply information about other possible ways for Bando to reduce pollution
p
(c) consider that the relative sales volumes of a company's products are not necessarily
proportional to profits
(d) identify any alternative methods by which to convince Bando to change its manufacturing
process
(e) consider that a boycott may take too long to achieve its purpose.

12. The average normal infant born in the United States weighs between twelve and fourteen
pounds at the age of three months. Therefore, if a three-month-old
three old child weighs only ten pounds,
its weight gain has been below the United States average.
Which of the following indicates a flaw in the reasoning
reas above?
(a) Weight is only one measure of normal infant development.
(b) Some three-month-old old children weigh as much as seventeen pounds.
(c) It is possible for a normal child to weigh ten pounds at birth.

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 (d) The phrase "below average" does not necessarily
n mean insufficient.
(e) Average weight gain is not the same as average weight.

13. Physician: The hormone melatonin has shown promise as a medication for sleep disorders when
taken in synthesized form. Because the long-term
long term side effects of synthetic melatonin are
unknown, however, I cannot recommend its use at this time.
Patient: Your position is inconsistent with your usual practice. You prescribe many medications
that you know have serious side effects, so concern about side effects cannot be the real reason
you will not prescribe melatonin.
melaton
The patient's argument is flawed because it fails to consider that
(a) the side effects of synthetic melatonin might be different from those of naturally produced
melatonin
(b) it is possible that the physician does not believe that melatonin has been conclusively shown
to be effective
(c) sleep disorders, if left untreated, might lead to serious medical complications
(d) the side effects of a medication can take some time to manifest themselves
(e) known risks can be weighed against known benefits,
benefits, but unknown risks cannot

14. Homeowners aged 40 to 50 are more likely to purchase ice cream and are more likely to purchase
it in larger amounts than are members of any other demographic group. The popular belief that
teenagers eat more ice cream than adults must, therefore, be false.
fa
The argument is flawed primarily because the author
(a) fails to distinguish between purchasing and consuming
(b) does not supply information about homeowners in age groups other than 40 to 50
(c) depends on popular belief rather than on documented research findings
(d) does not specify the precise amount of ice cream purchased by any demographic group
(e) discusses ice cream rather than more nutritious and healthful foods

15. An overly centralized economy, not the changes in the climate, is responsible for the poor
agricultural production in Country X since its new government came to power. Neighboring
Country Y has experienced the same climate conditions, but while agricultural production has
been falling in Country X, it has been rising in Country Y.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument?
(a) Industrial production also is declining in Country X.
(b) Whereas Country Y is landlocked, Country X has a major seaport.
(c) Both Country X and Country Y have been experiencing drought conditions.
(d) The crops that have always been grown in CountryCountry X are different from those that have
always been grown in Country Y.
(e) Country X's new government instituted a centralized economy with the intention of
ensuring an equitable distribution of goods.

16. Certain messenger molecules fight damage to the lungs from noxious air by telling the muscle
cells encircling the lungs’ airways to contract. This partially seals off the lungs. An asthma attack
occurs when the messenger molecules are activated unnecessarily, in response to harmless
things like pollen or household dust.
Which of the following, if true, points to the most serious flaw of a plan to develop a medication
that would prevent asthma attacks
attacks by blocking receipt of any messages sent by the messenger
molecules referred to above?
(a) Researchers do not yet know how the body produces the messenger molecules that trigger
asthma attacks.
(b) Researchers do not yet know what makes one person’s messenger molecules more easily
activated than another’s.
(c) Such a medication would not become available for several years, because of long lead times
in both development and manufacture.
(d) Such a medication would be unable to distinguish between messages triggered by pollen
and household dust and messages triggered by noxious air.
(e) Such a medication would be a preventative only and would be unable to alleviate an
asthma attack once it had started

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17. Cotrell is, at best, able to write magazine articles of average quality. The most compelling piece
of evidencee 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
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

18. Just a few years ago salmon could not survive in the oxygen-starved
oxygen starved and polluted Thames. Nor
could many other species. But But now, after years of determined effort, the salmon have returned,
and that is a sure sign that the river is pollution-free.
pollution
Each of the following indicates a possible flaw in the reasoning in the passage above EXCEPT:
(a) The salmon that have returned may be of a strain that is unaffected by the pollutants.
(b) The pollution may have been reduced to a level at which the salmon can survive.
(c) Oxygen starvation is often a consequence of pollution, and this may have killed the salmon.
(d) The salmon may ay have been killed by one particular pollutant, which has now been removed
while others remain.
(e) There may still be pollution, but its nature may have changed to a form that salmon can
tolerate.

19. The student body at this university takes courses in a wide range of disciplines. Miriam is a
student at this university, so she takes courses in a wide range of disciplines.
Which one of the following arguments exhibits flawed reasoning most similar to that exhibited
by the argument above?
(a) The students at this school take mathematics. Miguel is a student at this school,
school so he takes
mathematics.
(b) The editorial board of this law journal has written on many legal issues. Louise is on the
editorial board, so she has written on many legal issues.
(c) The component parts of bulldozers are heavy. This machine is a bulldozer, so it is heavy.
(d) All older automobiles need frequent oil changes. This car is new, so its oil need not be
changed as frequently.
(e) The individual cells of the brain are incapable of thinking. Therefore, the brain as a whole is
incapable of thinking.

20. At Flordyce University any student who wants to participate in a certain archaeological dig is
eligible to do so but only if the student has taken at least one archaeology course and has shown
an interest in the field. Many students who have shown an interest in archaeology never take
even one archaeology course. Therefore, many students who want to participate in the dig will
be ineligible to do so.
The flawed reasoning of which one of the following arguments is most similar to that of the
argument above?
(a) Theoretically, any jar is worth saving regardless of its size, but only if it has a lid. Therefore,
since some jars are sure not to have lids, there are certain sizes of jar that are actually not
worth saving.
(b) For a horse that is well schooled to be ideal for beginning riders that horse must also be
surefooted and gentle. Many horses
horses that are surefooted are not gentle. Therefore many well-well
schooled horses are not ideal for beginning riders.
(c) If an author’s first novel has a romantic setting and a suspenseful plot, it will become a best-seller.
best
Since many authors’ first novels have neither, not many first novels become best-sellers.
best
(d) Any automobile that is more than a few years old is eventually sure to need repairs if it is
not regularly maintained. Many automobiles are more than a few years old, but still do not
need repairs. Therefore, many automobiles are regularly maintained.
(e) An expensive new building will prove to be a good investment only if it is aesthetically
pleasing or provides lots of office space. However, since many expensive new buildings are
not aesthetically pleasing, few expensive new buildings will prove to be good investments.

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21. Hea Sook: One should not readily believe urban legends. Most legends are propagated because
the moral lesson underlying them supports a political agenda. People will repeat a tale if it fits
their purpose. They may not deliberately spread untruths, but neither are they particularly
motivated to investigate deeply to determine if the tale they are telling is true.
Kayla: But people would not repeat stories that they did not believe were true. Therefore, one can
safely
fely assume that if a story has been repeated by enough people then it is more likely to be true.
true
Kayla's reply is most vulnerable to the criticism that it
(a) does not specify how many people need to repeat a story before someone is justified
believing it
(b) overstates the significance of political agendas in the retelling of stories
(c) fails to address the claim that people will not verify the truth of a story that fits their
purpose
(d) implicitly supports the claim that the people repeating legends are ar not deliberately
spreading untruths
(e) cannot distinguish people's motivations for repeating urban legends from their motivations
for repeating other types of story

22. The administrators of a music downloading website were worried that the lack of downloadable
movies and TV shows could diminish the popularity of their site. Accordingly, they decided to
survey their existing customers in order to determine
determine whether adding movies would increase
interest. The survey found that only a small percentage of their current customers were
interested in purchasing movies online, and the administrators concluded that adding movies
would not significantly increase traffic
traf to their site.
Which of the following, if true, shows a flaw in the administrator's reasoning?
(a) The perceived demand for online movie purchases has been overstated
(b) Customers who purchase music online are as likely to purchase movies as music
(c) Surveys conducted by email are the best way to assess interest in a new online product.
(d) There is only one other website currently offering both music and movies.
(e) This website's existing customers are exclusively music aficionados.

23. A cat will not be affectionate toward people unless it is handled when it is a kitten. Since the cat
that Paula plans to give to her friend was handled when it was a kitten, that cat will be
affectionate toward people.
The flawed reasoning in the argument above most closely parallels that in which one of the
following?
(a) Tulip bulbs will not produce flowers unless they are chilled for two months. Since the tulip
bulbs in the clay pot were not chilled for two months, these bulbs will not produce flowers.
(b) Beets do not grow well unless the soil in which they are grown contains trace amounts of
boron. Since the beets in this plot are growing well, the soil in the plot must contain trace
amounts of boron.
(c) Fruit trees will not produce much fruit unless they are pruned properly. That the fruit trees
at the local orchard produce a large amount of fruit proves that they have been pruned
properly.
(d) Cranberries will not thrive unless they are grown in bogs. Since the cranberries in this area
are nott grown in bogs, these cranberries will not thrive.
(e) Crass seeds will not germinate well unless they are pressed firmly into the ground. The
grass seeds sown in this yard were pressed firmly into the ground, so they will germinate
well.

24. The violent crime rate (number of violent crimes per 1,000 residents) in Meadowbrook is 60
percent higher now than it was four years ago. The corresponding increase for Parkdale is only
10 percent. These figures support the conclusion that residents of Meadowbrook are more likely
to become victims of violent crime than are residents of Parkdale.
The argument above is flawed because it fails to take into account
(a) changes in the population density of both Parkdale and Meadowbrook over the past four
years
(b) how the rate of population growth in Meadowbrook over the past four years compares to
the corresponding rate for Parkdale

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 (c) the ratio of violent to nonviolent crimes committed during the past four years in
Meadowbrook and Parkdale
(d) the violent crime rates in Meadowbrook and Parkdale four years ago
(e) how Meadowbrook’s expenditures for crime prevention over the past four years compare to
Parkdale’s expenditures

25. A recent analysis

alysis of a new chemical element found on the Moon showed that the new element
could be used to substitute for several rare and extremely expensive metals used in space
electronics. However, research conducted by an independent laboratory showed that some
errors were made during analysis of the new element, and therefore, metals currently used in
space electronics cannot be replaced with this element.
The argument above is flawed because it
(a) presumes, without providing justification, that if something is not proved to be true, then it
must be wrong.
(b) fails to prove that independent research laboratories are more capable in chemical analysis
than the laboratories that tested the new element.
(c) fails to consider the possibility of further accurate chemical
chemical analyses of the new element.
(d) fails to consider that laboratory tests conducted by only two institutions may not be
sufficient to reach a definite conclusion.
(e) presumes, without providing justification, that results of research in which several errors
were made can be considered to be trustworthy.

Answer Key
1-a 2-b 3-c 44-b 5-e 6-b 7-b 8-d 9-a 10-e
11-c 12-e 13-e 14
14-a 15-d 16-d 17-c 18-c 19-b 20-b
21-c 22-e 23-e 24
24-d 25-c

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