Logical Reasoning

PT129 · S1 · Q3 On the first day of trout season

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On the first day of trout season a team of biologists went with local trout anglers to the Macawber River.

Evidence

On the first day of trout season a team of biologists went with local trout anglers to the Macawber River. Each angler who caught at least 2 trout chose exactly 2 of these trout for the biologists to weigh. A total of 90 fish were weighed.

Conclusion

The measurements show that at the beginning of this season the average trout in the Macawber River weighed approximately 1.6 kilograms.

Evaluate

The biologists did not find the most scientific method of measuring the weight of the average trout. Leave it up to the anglers and they’ll pick they’re biggest fish and the average weight of the selected fish won’t be representative of the average fish in the river.

3.

The reasoning above is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

  1. Correct

    makes a generalization from a

    Why this is right

    It's not hard to imagine the fishermen submitting their largest, rather than their most representative, fish to be weighed. It is interesting how this question plays off the common sense that people who fish are eager to brag about their biggest catches.

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

    84% picked this

  2. relies on evidence that is

    Contradiction

    The biologists took the measurements themselves.

    2% picked this

  3. ignores the variations in weight

    Out of Scope

    The rest of the season is not relevant since the argument is about the first day of trout season.

    9% picked this

  4. fails to take into account

    Out of Scope

    Previous seasons are not relevant to the argument.

    2% picked this

  5. does not consider whether any

    Out of Scope

    Fish other than trout are not relevant to the argument.

    3% picked this

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