Logical Reasoning

PT136 · S2 · Q16 The owners of Uptown Apartments

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The owners of Uptown Apartments are leaning toward not improving the apartment complex; they believe that the increased rents they could charge for improved apartments would not cover the costs of the improvements.

Opposing Support

They [the owners of Uptown Apartments] do not believe that the increased rents they could charge for improved apartments would not cover the costs of the improvements.

Opposing Point

The owners of Uptown Apartments are leaning toward not improving the apartment complex.

Evidence

The improvements would make the surrounding housing, which they also own, more valuable and rentable for higher rents.

Conclusion

So the owners should make the improvements.

Evaluate

This argument boils down to whether a certain action (improving the apartments) is a Net Gain. The author is arguing that the owners should make the apartments, so she thinks this action will yield a net positive. And she is rebutting the owners, who think it will be a Net Loss (the cost of the improvements > the increase in rent that they could charge).

The author ends up changing the math on their calculation by bringing in another factor that would be affected by improving the apartments: they would also raise the property values and revenue ceiling on other assets owned by the owners of the apartments.

Goal

We would potentially want an argument that has something resembling this structure. Opposing idea: Don't do action A, because upside X doesn't offset downside Y. Author's Conclusion: You should do action A. Author's Evidence: Action A would also have upside Z

The argument may even care that upside Z (raising the values / rental potential of the surrounding housing) isn't directly affected by action A, but seems to be indirectly affected by action A.

16.

The reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to the reasoning in the argument above?

  1. Correct

    John's injured knee does not

    Why this is right

    John’s injured knee does not cause him a lot of pain. So he does not want to undergo the pain of surgery to heal it. But the surgery would enable him to exercise regularly again. Thus John should have the surgery. The argument recommends a course of action against the wishes of John who feels the cost of that action is too great. The evidence presents a benefit of the recommended course of action John did not consider.

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

    73% picked this

  2. Since its fishing season lasts

    Wrong Structure / Wrong Validity

    It’s [the Laketown Fishing Company] fishing season lasts only six months. Laketown Fishing Company prefers renting boats to buying its own. But boats can be used for other purposes during the fishing season. It has made the wrong decision. The evidence does not provide a benefit of buying the boats, since the other purposes are during the fishing season, when Laketown Fishing Company already has the boats they rent.

    8% picked this

  3. Max's mechanic thinks there is

    Wrong Structure

    Such a diagnostic engine removal [to check for the crack in the left cylinder head] would cost about $175, even if the cylinder head does not need replacement. Max’s mechanic thinks there is a crack in the left cylinder head of Max’s car and wants to remove the engine to check. But if the cylinder head is cracked and is not replaced, the engine will be ruined. So Max should have the mechanic check for the crack. This argument does not recommend a course of action against the wishes of Max, since Max’s preferred course of action is not discussed.

    14% picked this

  4. Because of dental problems, Leona

    Out of Scope

    Dental problems can lead to other health problems. Because of dental problems, Leona cut her consumption of candy. Consequently, she learned to enjoy fruit more. Thus, dental problems led in her case to an improved diet and better health overall. This argument does not recommend a course of action. It reasons through a causal chain about what has happened, while the argument in the stimulus is about what should happen.

    3% picked this

  5. Bulk Fruit Company is deciding

    Wrong Structure / Wrong Validity

    Research suggests that people will come to like this [new hybrid] fruit. Bulk Fruit Company is enthusiastic about the idea [marketing the hybrid fruit]. Therefore, it is in the long-term interest of the company to market the hybrid fruit. This argument does not recommend a course of action against the wishes of the Bulk Fruit Company, since their preferred course of action is the one recommended. Furthermore, the conclusion is not supported by the evidence.

    2% picked this

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