Logical Reasoning

PT113 · S3 · Q23 Town councillor: The only reason for the town to have

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Town councillor: The only reason for the town to have ordinances restricting where skateboarding can be done would be to protect children from danger.

Conclusion

The town should not pass an ordinance prohibiting skateboarding in River Park.

Evidence

The only reason for skateboarding ordinances is to protect children from danger. Skateboarding in the park is dangerous, but if children can't skateboard there, they'll skateboard in the streets — which is more dangerous than skateboarding in the park.

Evaluate

Map the structure: a regulation has a stated purpose (here: protecting children from danger). The regulation under consideration would, in fact, push the situation toward an alternative that is worse on the regulation's own purpose. So the regulation, against its stated purpose, shouldn't be adopted.

Goal

Find an answer that has the same shape: action X is intended to address purpose P, but doing X actually leads to an outcome that is worse on P than not doing X. Therefore X should not be done.

23.

The pattern of reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to that in the town councillor's argument?

  1. The reason for requiring environmental

    Bad Match

    This argument concludes that environmental reviews should be required, not that they shouldn't be waived. The original argument concludes against applying a measure (don't pass the ordinance). And there's no claim that applying environmental reviews would worsen the environment. Different shape.

    4% picked this

  2. Correct

    Insecticides are designed to protect

    Why this is right

    Same shape. Insecticides have a stated purpose (protect crops from insect damage). The proposed measure (using insecticides against aphids) would, by killing the wasps, actually let insecticide-resistant pests cause more damage than aphids do. Net effect: applying the measure makes the situation worse on its own purpose (crop damage). Therefore the measure shouldn't be applied. That tracks the original exactly: an action backfires against its stated purpose, so don't take it.

    Skill tested: Parallel · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    82% picked this

  3. The purpose of compulsory vaccination

    Bad Match

    This argument says vaccinations shouldn't happen because the purpose is no longer relevant (smallpox is eliminated). The original argument doesn't say the purpose is irrelevant — protecting children from danger is still very relevant. The original argues against an action because applying it would worsen the purpose. (C) argues that the purpose is moot. Different.

    1% picked this

  4. The function of a sealer

    Bad Match

    This argument concludes against the measure because the purpose is already taken care of (cedar is already weather-resistant, so it doesn't need a sealer). That's "the purpose is already met," not "the measure backfires against its purpose." Different.

    1% picked this

  5. Traffic patterns that involve one-way

    Bad Match

    This argument rejects the measure because the purpose itself (faster traffic) would harm the South Main Street area. The original argument keeps the purpose as good (protecting children) — it rejects the measure because the measure backfires against that good purpose. (E) rejects the purpose; the original rejects the means. Different structure.

    12% picked this

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