- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8950
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Fri Jan 20, 2017 12:00 am
#64007
Complete Question Explanation
Flaw in the Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (B)
The factory manager quoted in this stimulus notes that the products produced at the factory are
expensive, which is at least partly attributable to its outdated, inefficient manufacturing equipment.
The manager then suggests one possible solution: the factory’s products could be more competitively
priced if the factory were refurbished with newer, more efficient equipment.
At this point, the manager has identified the problem (the factory’s products are expensive), has
noted one solution (newer equipment), and has then gone on to draw a very questionable conclusion:
since the factory’s survival depends on its products’ being more competitively priced, “we must
completely refurbish the factory in order to survive.” (emphasis added).
The stimulus is followed by a Flaw in the Reasoning question. If after reading the stimulus, you
didn’t happen to notice any flaw, this question should lead you to reconsider the passage. What was
the flaw, or the logical leap, in the factory manager’s argument? The assertion that the factory must
be completely refurbished, despite the fact that other potential solutions may exist.
Answer choice (A): There is no indication that the manger fails to recognize this fact; changing
commodity prices are not relevant to the manager’s flawed reasoning—that the factory must be
refurbished if the company wishes to price its products more competitively.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. The factory manager suggests only one
single solution to the factory’s problems (completely refurbishing the factory), and then leaps to the
assertion that this solution must be implemented.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice describes a causal flaw, but it does not describe the problem
with the factory manager’s argument as discussed above.
Answer choice (D): The problem with the stimulus is not that the manager fails to consider any
possible causes—rather, the flaw is that the manager recommends one solution and then leaps to the
conclusion that it must be implemented, before considering any other solutions.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice is incorrect, because the factory manager does not fail to
make a definite recommendation, and instead suggest one possible course of action: rather, the
factory manager makes too definite a recommendation based on the consideration of only one course
of action.
Flaw in the Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (B)
The factory manager quoted in this stimulus notes that the products produced at the factory are
expensive, which is at least partly attributable to its outdated, inefficient manufacturing equipment.
The manager then suggests one possible solution: the factory’s products could be more competitively
priced if the factory were refurbished with newer, more efficient equipment.
At this point, the manager has identified the problem (the factory’s products are expensive), has
noted one solution (newer equipment), and has then gone on to draw a very questionable conclusion:
since the factory’s survival depends on its products’ being more competitively priced, “we must
completely refurbish the factory in order to survive.” (emphasis added).
The stimulus is followed by a Flaw in the Reasoning question. If after reading the stimulus, you
didn’t happen to notice any flaw, this question should lead you to reconsider the passage. What was
the flaw, or the logical leap, in the factory manager’s argument? The assertion that the factory must
be completely refurbished, despite the fact that other potential solutions may exist.
Answer choice (A): There is no indication that the manger fails to recognize this fact; changing
commodity prices are not relevant to the manager’s flawed reasoning—that the factory must be
refurbished if the company wishes to price its products more competitively.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. The factory manager suggests only one
single solution to the factory’s problems (completely refurbishing the factory), and then leaps to the
assertion that this solution must be implemented.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice describes a causal flaw, but it does not describe the problem
with the factory manager’s argument as discussed above.
Answer choice (D): The problem with the stimulus is not that the manager fails to consider any
possible causes—rather, the flaw is that the manager recommends one solution and then leaps to the
conclusion that it must be implemented, before considering any other solutions.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice is incorrect, because the factory manager does not fail to
make a definite recommendation, and instead suggest one possible course of action: rather, the
factory manager makes too definite a recommendation based on the consideration of only one course
of action.