September 1998 LSAT Section 2 Question 17

Commissioner: I have been incorrectly criticized for having made my decision on the power plant issue prematurely....

Batman on November 21, 2014

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I understand why the answer goes to (b). However, does commissioner really take for granted that the report of the association is THE ONLY direct evidence that needed to be considered? How can test takers know he does according to the stimulus? I don't think commissioner refers it is the only source he relies upon either directly or indirectly in the stimulus. Thanks,

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Naz on December 1, 2014

The commissioner's point is that she has been incorrectly criticized for having made her decision on the power plant issue prematurely.

She states that she based her decision on the report that was prepared by the neighborhood association, and though she has not studied it thoroughly, she is "sure that the information it contains is accurate." We are also told that when she received input from the neighborhood association on jail relocation, she agreed with its recommendation.

We are supposed to find the answer choice that is not a flaw in the argument.

Answer choice (B) states: "It draws a conclusion about the recommendations of the association from incomplete recollections."

This is not a flaw in the argument because the recollections used to draw the conclusion are not incomplete. The neighborhood association has prepared a report. The report is finished, rather than "incomplete." Thus, answer choice (B) is the correct answer.

Answer choice (C) states: "It takes for granted that the association's report is the only evidence that needed to be considered."

The commissioner makes her conclusion based solely on the neighborhood association's report. Thus, the argument does accept without evidence, i.e. takes for granted, that the association's report is the only direct evidence that was used to come to the conclusion.

Though the commissioner does not outwardly say "this is the only evidence I used," she does say "I based my decision on the report prepared by the neighborhood association." Instead of saying, "ONE OF THE THINGS I considered was the report," she plainly states that her decision was based on the report.

Thus, it is not an illogical stretch to take that to mean that the only DIRECT evidence used for consideration was the report. This is why answer choice (C) is not the correct answer.

Hope that helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.