Critical Reasoning

Magazine editor: I know that some of our regular advertisers have been pressuring us to give favorable mention to their products in our articles, but they should realize that for us to yield to their wishes would actually be against their interests. To remain an effective advertising vehicle, we must have loyal readership, and we would soon lost that readership if our readers suspect that our editorial integrity has been compromised by pandering to advertisers.

Advertising-sales director: You underestimate the sophistication of our readers. They recognize that the advertisements we carry are not articles, so their response to the advertisements has never depended on their opinion of the editorial integrity of the magazine as a whole.

Which one of the following is the most accurate assessment of the advertising-sales director's argument as a response to the magazine editor's argument?

A. It succeeds because it shows that the editor's argument depends on an unwarranted assumption about factors affecting an advertisement's effectiveness.

B. It succeeds because it exposes as mistaken the editor's estimation of the sophestication of the magazine's readers.

C. It succeds because it undermines the editor's claim about how the magazine's editorial integrity would be affected by allowing advertisers to influence articles

d. It fails because the editor's argument doesnot depend on any assumption about readers' response to the advertisement s they see in the magazine.

E. It fails because it is based on a misunderstanding of the editor's view about how readers respond to advertisements they see in the magazine

The magazine editor's argument assumes which one of the following?

a. A magazine editor should never be influenced in the performance of his or her professional duties by the wishes of the companies that regularly advertise in the magazine.

b. The magazine cannot give any favorable mention in its articles to its regular advertisers without compromising its reputation for editorial integrity

c. Favorable mention of their products in the magazine's articles is of less value to the advertisers than is the continued effectiveness of the magazine as an advertising vehicle.

d. Giving favorable mention to a product in a magazine article is a more effective form of advertising than is an explicit advertisement for the product in the same magazine.

e. Carrying paid advertisements can never pose any threat to the magazine's reputation for editorial integrity nor to the loyalty of its readership.

Pls answer both Qs with explanations

IMO,

C and B.
for both questions, the main point is related to editorial integrity and advertisements
compromising that intergrity.

for C, editors say advertising compromises their editorial integrity->readership, advertisers refutes by saying it does not
compromise integrity because readers are smart enough to diff. between article and ad.

for B, editors are assuming that ad and integrity are mutually exclusive

anyone?

IMO E & B

My answers C and B, explanations below

Magazine editor: I know that some of our regular advertisers have been pressuring us to give favorable mention to their products in our articles, but they should realize that for us to yield to their wishes would actually be against their interests. To remain an effective advertising vehicle, we must have loyal readership, and we would soon lost that readership if our readers suspect that our editorial integrity has been compromised by pandering to advertisers.

Advertising-sales director: You underestimate the sophistication of our readers. They recognize that the advertisements we carry are not articles, so their response to the advertisements has never depended on their opinion of the editorial integrity of the magazine as a whole.


Which one of the following is the most accurate assessment of the advertising-sales director's argument as a response to the magazine editor's argument?

A. It succeeds because it shows that the editor's argument depends on an unwarranted assumption about factors affecting an advertisement's effectiveness. - Stimulus is not foccused towards the effectiveness of the advertisements, but on editorial integrity

B. It succeeds because it exposes as mistaken the editor's estimation of the sophistication of the magazine's readers. Out of scope

C. It succeeds because it undermines the editor's claim about how the magazine's editorial integrity would be affected by allowing advertisers to influence articles - Correct. In simple terms, Editor claims that if he allows favorable advertisements, readers will assume that magazine is more focused on making money rather than telling the truth and hence will lose readers. However. Advertising sales director points out that readers view advertisements are mature enough to realize that advertising is a mere source of revenue for the magazine and it does not imply that the magazine recommends the product.

d. It fails because the editor's argument does not depend on any assumption about readers' response to the advertisement s they see in the magazine. out of scope
E. It fails because it is based on a misunderstanding of the editor's view about how readers respond to advertisements they see in the magazine - Vague and out of scope


Question2) Apply the negation test and you the answer jumps out and shouts at you.


The magazine editor's argument assumes which one of the following?

a. A magazine editor should never be influenced in the performance of his or her professional duties by the wishes of the companies that regularly advertise in the magazine.

b. The magazine cannot give any favorable mention in its articles to its regular advertisers without compromising its reputation for editorial integrity - If magazine can give favorable mention in its articles to its regular advertisers without compromising its reputation for editorial integrity then magazine editor's argument is weakened. if magazine cannot give favorable mention in its articles to its regular advertisers without compromising its reputation for editorial integrity. Editor's argument is strengthened

c. Favorable mention of their products in the magazine's articles is of less value to the advertisers than is the continued effectiveness of the magazine as an advertising vehicle.

d. Giving favorable mention to a product in a magazine article is a more effective form of advertising than is an explicit advertisement for the product in the same magazine.

e. Carrying paid advertisements can never pose any threat to the magazine's reputation for editorial integrity nor to the loyalty of its readership.

My choices: A & B

1) Magazine editor: I know that some of our regular advertisers have been pressuring us to give favorable mention to their products in our articles, but they should realize that for us to yield to their wishes would actually be against their interests. To remain an effective advertising vehicle, we must have loyal readership, and we would soon lost that readership if our readers suspect that our editorial integrity has been compromised by pandering to advertisers.

Advertising-sales director: You underestimate the sophistication of our readers. They recognize that the advertisements we carry are not articles, so their response to the advertisements has never depended on their opinion of the editorial integrity of the magazine as a whole.

Which one of the following is the most accurate assessment of the advertising-sales director's argument as a response to the magazine editor's argument?

shows 2/3 split - we have to decide whether the response failed or succeeded. I feel, it succeeds, bcoz Magzine editor is concerned about editorial integrity, which in turn will affect consumer's response to advertiements. The ad director shows that consumer's response is independent of editorial integrity. Only A meets

A. It succeeds because it shows that the editor's argument depends on an unwarranted assumption about factors affecting an advertisement's effectiveness. (correct)

B. It succeeds because it exposes as mistaken the editor's estimation of the sophestication of the magazine's readers. (reader's sophistication is not the issue....rather the issue is 'how integrity will affect ad'....so incorrect)

C. It succeds because it undermines the editor's claim about how the magazine's editorial integrity would be affected by allowing advertisers to influence articles (reverses what mentioned in the argument)

d. It fails because the editor's argument doesnot depend on any assumption about readers' response to the advertisement s they see in the magazine.

E. It fails because it is based on a misunderstanding of the editor's view about how readers respond to advertisements they see in the magazine


2) The magazine editor's argument assumes which one of the following?

Issue: favorable mention affects editorical integrity that in turn affects consumer's response to ad

a. A magazine editor should never be influenced in the performance of his or her professional duties by the wishes of the companies that regularly advertise in the magazine. (didactic...incorrect)

b. The magazine cannot give any favorable mention in its articles to its regular advertisers without compromising its reputation for editorial integrity

c. Favorable mention of their products in the magazine's articles is of less value to the advertisers than is the continued effectiveness of the magazine as an advertising vehicle. (out of scope...does not address the issue)

d. Giving favorable mention to a product in a magazine article is a more effective form of advertising than is an explicit advertisement for the product in the same magazine. (effectiveness of ad is not the issue)

e. Carrying paid advertisements can never pose any threat to the magazine's reputation for editorial integrity nor to the loyalty of its readership. (out of scope)

mohit11 wrote:My answers C and B, explanations below



C. It succeeds because it undermines the editor's claim about how the magazine's editorial integrity would be affected by allowing advertisers to influence articles - Correct. In simple terms, Editor claims that if he allows favorable advertisements, readers will assume that magazine is more focused on making money rather than telling the truth and hence will lose readers. However. Advertising sales director points out that readers view advertisements are mature enough to realize that advertising is a mere source of revenue for the magazine and it does not imply that the magazine recommends the product.


Question2) Apply the negation test and you the answer jumps out and shouts at you.[/color]


The magazine editor's argument assumes which one of the following?

a. A magazine editor should never be influenced in the performance of his or her professional duties by the wishes of the companies that regularly advertise in the magazine.

b. The magazine cannot give any favorable mention in its articles to its regular advertisers without compromising its reputation for editorial integrity - If magazine can give favorable mention in its articles to its regular advertisers without compromising its reputation for editorial integrity then magazine editor's argument is weakened. if magazine cannot give favorable mention in its articles to its regular advertisers without compromising its reputation for editorial integrity. Editor's argument is strengthened

c. Favorable mention of their products in the magazine's articles is of less value to the advertisers than is the continued effectiveness of the magazine as an advertising vehicle.

d. Giving favorable mention to a product in a magazine article is a more effective form of advertising than is an explicit advertisement for the product in the same magazine.

e. Carrying paid advertisements can never pose any threat to the magazine's reputation for editorial integrity nor to the loyalty of its readership.

good explanation Mohit!

OA is D and C. Source: Answer key from LSAT Preptest 17, Section 2, Question nos: 22 & 23