LSAT Practice Test

Which one of the following exhibits a pattern of reasoning most similar to that exhibited by the argument above?

1. A. Drawing conclusions from carefully controlled studies

2. B. Relying on personal anecdotes for persuasive power

3. C. Building an argument on a foundation of logical fallacies

4. D. Formulating a hypothesis based on available evidence

The correct answer is: C. Building an argument on a foundation of logical fallacies

The argument in the passage is based on a flawed line of reasoning that connects two unrelated events in order to make a persuasive point. In this case, the author argues that because the popularity of a reading method has increased over time, it must be effective. This is an example of building an argument on a foundation of logical fallacies, as the relationship between popularity and effectiveness is not logically sound. Option C best aligns with this flawed reasoning pattern, as building an argument on logical fallacies involves making connections that do not hold up under logical scrutiny. The other options do not exhibit the same type of flawed reasoning present in the passage.