Q18 - Mayor: A huge protest against plans

[smiller]

Question Type:
Flaw

Stimulus Breakdown:
Premise:
Protesters were only protesting because most were paid to do so.

Conclusion:
The protester's claim that the factory could cause health problems can be dismissed.

Answer Anticipation:
This argument displays a classic Ad Hominem flaw. A claim can be true even if the person making it is biased.

Correct Answer:
(C)

Answer Choice Analysis:
(A) This is not a flaw in the argument. The mayor does not mischaracterize the protestors' view.

(B) This is not a flaw in the argument. The mayor does not try to induce fear.

(C) This is the correct answer. The only reason the mayor gives for rejecting the claim is the possible motivation that some protestors might have for making it.

(D) The mayor's argument is not based on an unrepresentative sample. Even if we tried to stretch this answer choice to make it fit the argument, what are the "unrepresentative cases?" Those aren't the protestors who were paid, since we're told that "most" fall into this category.

(E) This is not a flaw in the argument. The protesters aren't claiming that health problems are inevitable. The property developers might be claiming that lower land values are inevitable, but nowhere else in the argument is someone claiming that this is merely possible.

Takeaway/Pattern: Be ready to spot classic flaws in arguments, like the Ad Hominem fallacy. Create a free Manhattan Prep account and download our Flashcards to test your familiarity with classic flaws.

#officialexplanation

[esthertan0310]

I can see that the argument regards "most often selected" as the respondent's "preference", but how does it correlate to option E?

[maryadkins]

This isn't the question at PT 71, S1, Q17 so I'm not sure what you're asking about. Please repost in the proper category where this question appears and we will answer it!