Q9 - In a recent field study

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Question Type:
Flaw

Stimulus Breakdown:
The argument concludes that having more plant species improves a prairie's ability to support plant life. Why? Well, a recent study showed that the more plant species that a prairie plot had, the more vigorously the plants grew and the better the soil retained nutrients.

Answer Anticipation:
The argument mistakes correlation for causation. In fact, common sense would suggest reversing the proposed causal relationship.

Correct answer:
(A)

Answer choice analysis:
(A) is correct. This matches our what we anticipated.

(B) is out of scope. Why do we need to know about the mechanism by which the process occurs.

(C) is out of scope. The argument is about explaining what was observed in the field study, not transferring such results to plots of land outside of the field study.

(D) generalizes the flaw described in answer choice (C) and is incorrect.

(E) correctly describes the wrong flaw. This argument doesn't rest on a discussion of proportions.

Takeaway/Pattern: Reasoning Structure: Causation

#officialexplanation

[MingL143]

I chose "E"

Before i was looking for the answer choices, I was looking for something :"Certain moral codes can be universal across different cultures.

[ohthatpatrick]

I think you meant to put this comment on the thread for Q8. Would you mind re-posting it there, so that I can delete this one?