Flawed Reasoning

[lsatwin]

Logical Reasoning Bible p. 402 says that "if the reasoning is flawed, the question stem will state that the reasoning is bad by using words such as "flawed" or "questionable." If the reasoning is not flawed, then the question stem will not refer to flawed reasoning."

However, Dec 91, Sec 1, # 13 questions reads "if that insect is a bee, it can only sting once. It only did sting once. So it is a bee." Question stem: "which one of the following exhibits a pattern of reasoning most similar to that in the argument above?"

There is no mentioning of flawed reasoning even though it is incorrectly reversed flawed reasoning. Please clarify, because based on what's written in your book I assume that the reasoning in the stimulus is valid if a question stem does not refer to flawed reasoning, and I may be thinking that some, more complex, flawed reasoning is valid when in fact it is not. Should I continue making use of the tip on p. 402 or should I stop?

[Dave Killoran]

Hi lsatwin,

Thanks for the message.

In answer to your question, please refer to page 401, bottom paragraph, second sentence. In that sentence I note that they started making that flawed designation in the question stem since February 1992. Prior to that date—as with the question you reference—they sometimes mentioned a flaw and sometimes did not. I hope that helps explain the issue, but please let me know if not.

Thanks and good luck with the studying!