请教 LSAT-11-1-13

taizei

13.   Editorial: In rejecting the plan proposed by parliament to reform the electoral process, the president clearly acted in the best interests of the nation. Anyone who thinks otherwise should remember that the president made this decision knowing it would be met with fierce opposition at home and widespread disapproval abroad. All citizens who place the nation’s well-being above narrow partisan interests will applaud this courageous action.

The reasoning in the editorial is in error because

(A) it confused a quality that is merely desirable in a political leader with a quality that is essential to effective political decision-making

(B) it fails to distinguish between evidence concerning the courage required to make a certain decision and evidence concerning the wisdom of making that decision

(C) it ignores the likelihood that many citizens have no narrow partisan interest in the proposed election reform plan

(D) it overlooks the possibility that there was strong opposition to the parliament’s plan among members of the president’s own party

(E) it depends on the unwarranted assumption that any plan proposed by a parliament will necessarily serve only narrow partisan interests

the answer: B,  why is the choice E wrong? help! thanks.

robertchu

"any plan proposed by a parliament will necessarily serve only narrow partisan interests"  is not a assumption relied upon by the editorial's argument, so E is out.

B incisively points out the fundamental problem in the editorial's line of reasoing, therefore is the best answer.

taizei

仍不是很明白，能否请再说详细些。谢谢！

robertchu

To test whether a statement is a necessary assumption for a conclusion, you can try deny test.  Deny the statement, and see whether the conclusion falls apart.  If so, then the statement is a necessary assumption.  Otherwise, it is not.

Deny "any plan proposed by a parliament will necessarily serve only narrow partisan interests", we get "not all plan proposed by a parliament will necessarily serve only narrow partisan interests".  In other words, "some plan do serve only partisan interests", so the editorial's argument that the electoral reform plan is one such plan could still be true.  Therefore, "any plan proposed by a parliament will necessarily serve only narrow partisan interests" is not a necessary assumption, and E is incorrect.

Bensontuo

robertchu 发表于 2004-8-6 13:05
To test whether a statement is a necessary assumption for a conclusion, you can try deny test.  ...

同意！               

Bensontuo

taizei 发表于 2004-8-5 11:44
13.   Editorial: In rejecting the plan proposed by parliament to reform the electoral pro ...

13

Spot the question type: method of the reasoning - Flaw.

Courageous actions definitely is not " correct action "

Anyway, let us dive into the options.

A. It does not mention anything as desirable quality of a political leader.  It does mention the action of a political leader.

B. Correct answer.

C. It does not really relevant to the argument

D. Against the premises.

E. It does not really relevant to the argument.