Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Medium

PT125 S4 Q14 Explanation

Expert: A group of researchers

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning question.

TopicsFlaw

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Stimulus

Expert: A group of researchers claims to have shown that for an antenna to work equally well at all frequencies, it must be symmetrical in shape and have what is known as a fractal structure. Yet the new antenna developed by these researchers, which satisfies both of these criteria, in at frequencies above 250 megahertz. Hence, their claim is incorrect.

What this question is testing

Flaw

Your task

Describe the reasoning error the argument actually commits.

Common trap

Answers that name a real logical flaw the argument doesn't actually make.

Winning move

Articulate the gap in the reasoning yourself, then match it to the choice that describes that gap.

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

The question
14.

The reasoning in the expert's argument is flawed because

Answer choices

  1. Not a Flaw1% picked this

    fails to provide a definition of the technical

    The argument does not need to provide a definition of the technical term “fractal.”

  2. Wrong Flaw9% picked this

    contradicts itself by denying in its conclusion the claim of scientific authorities that it relies

    The argument does not contradict itself, but rather attempts to contradict the researchers’ claim.

  3. Wrong Flaw8% picked this

    concludes that a claim is false merely on the grounds that there is insufficient evidence

    The evidence attempts to rebut the researchers’ claim and goes beyond suggesting that the researchers have failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove their claim.

  4. Correct72% picked this

    interprets an assertion that certain conditions are necessary as asserting that those

    Why this is right

    This correctly describes the reversed logic of the expert.

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

  5. Too Strong11% picked this

    takes for granted that there are only two possible alternatives, either below or

    The argument does not assume that there are only two possible alternatives since the argument permits the possibility that the antenna works at 250 megahertz.

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