Sam: In a recent survey, over 95

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TopicsMethod

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Stimulus

Sam: In a recent survey, over 95 percent of people who purchased a Starlight automobile last year said they were highly satisfied with their purchase. Since people who have purchased a new car in the last year are not highly satisfied Starlight automobiles are remarkably free from such defects.

Tiya: But some manufacturing defects in automobiles become apparent only after of use.

What this question is testing

Method

Your task

Describe how the argument proceeds — the technique it uses to reach its conclusion.

Common trap

Answers that describe a method the argument doesn't actually use.

Winning move

Track the role each statement plays, then match that to the choice describing the same moves.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question

Which one of the following most accurately describes how Tiya’s response is related

Answer choices

Opposite1% picked this
It argues that Sam’s conclusion is correct, though not for the
Tiya is pushing back against the conclusion, not arguing it's correct. She's saying, "Don't congratulate Starlight yet ... these cars haven't shown defects in year 1, but a lot of defects don't show up until year 4 or later."
1%
Doesn't Dispute Evidence1% picked this
It provides evidence indicating that the survey results Sam relies on in his argument do not accurately characterize
Tiya doesn't say that the 95% survey figure is misrepresentation of attitudes. Tiya is just saying that those attitudes may change in Year 4, if latent defects start to show up then. Most Method questions have a trap answer suggesting that the second person "denied the validity of Person 1's evidence", which has (almost?) never been right.
1%
Correct74% picked this
It offers a consideration that undermines the support Sam offers for
Why this is right
Sam's support is a survey that 95% of people didn't have a defect in their first year. Does that prove that these cars are free from defects? Not necessarily, Tiya says, offering the consideration that some defects don't know up until several years after purchase, so it's too soon to know what % of those cars are defect-free.
Skill tested: Method · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
74%
Unsupported - Circular Reasoning4% picked this
It points out that Sam’s argument presupposes the truth of the conclusion
Tiya doesn't accuse Sam of a circular argument (that's what "presupposing the truth of your conclusion means). Sam's argument doesn't assume that "Starlights are very defect-free". It assumes that "95% is remarkably free" and that "if there wasn't a manufacturing flaw in the first year, then it's defect free".
4%
Too Strong: implies false20% picked this
It presents new information that implies that Sam’s conclusion
Tiya isn't trying to refute Sam's conclusion, just saying that it's premature. The Starlight cars may well turn out to be defect-free; Tiya is just saying we wouldn't be able to fully judge the conclusion yet.
20%

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