Siegfried's logic

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n_niaz: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 40; Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:11 pm; Location: NYC; Thanked: 1 times; GMAT Score:720

by n_niaz » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:23 pm

Brunhilda: Economists have predicted that our generation will be the first that cannot confidently look forward to having a better standard of living than that enjoyed by our parents.

Siegfried: That's simply untrue. My father's standard of living is nowhere near as high as his parents' was, and my own standard of living is already higher than that of my parents.

Which of the following best describes the error of reasoning contained in Siegfried's argument above?
a) It relies upon an unreasonable appeal to authority.
b) It assumes the truth of what it sets out to prove.
c) It offers an example that is not inconsistent with Brunhilda's argument.
d) It is based on an unproven speculation about future events.
e) It uses evidence of a correlation to argue the existence of a causal relationship.

Source: Beat The GMAT — Critical Reasoning | Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:23 pm

ssmiles08: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 472; Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:54 pm; Thanked: 56 times

by ssmiles08 » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:29 pm

its b/w C and D

I would pick C...

You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period.

mehravikas: Legendary Member; Posts: 1161; Joined: Mon May 12, 2008 2:52 amFollowed by: 1 member; Location: Sydney; Thanked: 23 times

by mehravikas » Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:20 pm

Between B and E

I would go for E

shilpi84: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 77; Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 10:12 pm; Thanked: 3 times

by shilpi84 » Mon Jul 20, 2009 8:53 pm

IMO:C
What is the OA?

gmat740: MBA Student; Posts: 1194; Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:42 pmFollowed by: 17 members; Location: Paris, France; Thanked: 71 times; GMAT Score:710

by gmat740 » Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:26 pm

IMO-E

a) It relies upon an unreasonable appeal to authority. out of scope
b) It assumes the truth of what it sets out to prove. this is not a circular reasoning case
c) It offers an example that is not inconsistent with Brunhilda's argument.it does offers an example, but certainly that is not the reason for its flaw.
d) It is based on an unproven speculation about future events. out of scope
e) It uses evidence of a correlation to argue the existence of a causal relationship.correct.

viju9162: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 434; Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:48 pm; Location: Bangalore; Thanked: 6 times; GMAT Score:600

by viju9162 » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:49 pm

It is between B and E. unable to understand the meaning of E

"Native of" is used for a individual while "Native to" is used for a large group

scoobydooby: Legendary Member; Posts: 1035; Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:56 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 104 times

by scoobydooby » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:02 pm

theres a change of scope in Sigfried's argument from Brunhildas argument

Brunhilda: our generation cannot confidently hope for a better std of living (compared to the parents) in the future

Sigfried: counters Brunhilda by saying he already has a better std of living in the present. he doesnt even consider the future as Brunhildas argument does.
one can have a better std of living than his parents had in the present and still may not be able to confidently hope for a better living in the future.
=> Brunhildas argument may still hold=> Brunhildas conclusion not inconsistent with Sigfried's example.

C seems best

cata1yst: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 129; Joined: Tue May 19, 2009 9:12 am; Thanked: 8 times

by cata1yst » Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:09 am

scoobydooby wrote:theres a change of scope in Sigfried's argument from Brunhildas argument

Brunhilda: our generation cannot confidently hope for a better std of living (compared to the parents) in the future

Sigfried: counters Brunhilda by saying he already has a better std of living in the present. he doesnt even consider the future as Brunhildas argument does.
one can have a better std of living than his parents had in the present and still may not be able to confidently hope for a better living in the future.
=> Brunhildas argument may still hold=> Brunhildas conclusion not inconsistent with Sigfried's example.

C seems best

Agree.

n_niaz: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 40; Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:11 pm; Location: NYC; Thanked: 1 times; GMAT Score:720

by n_niaz » Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:57 am

will tell when somebody gets the right answer

shibal: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 345; Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2009 6:53 pm; Location: Sao Paulo-Brazil; Thanked: 12 times; GMAT Score:660

by shibal » Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:12 am

IMO B

suo1987: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 20; Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:23 pm; Thanked: 1 times

by suo1987 » Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:19 am

IMO E

cata1yst: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 129; Joined: Tue May 19, 2009 9:12 am; Thanked: 8 times

by cata1yst » Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:32 am

n_niaz wrote:will tell when somebody gets the right answer

I guess it is D. then since no one has taken that yet. Haha.

n_niaz: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 40; Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:11 pm; Location: NYC; Thanked: 1 times; GMAT Score:720

by n_niaz » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:01 am

there's another one nobody has taken as yet.

ssmiles08: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 472; Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:54 pm; Thanked: 56 times

by ssmiles08 » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:09 am

lol what A???

which makes NO sense to me btw lol

You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period.

ogbeni: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 186; Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:50 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 10 times

by ogbeni » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:39 am

It has got to be E because Siegfried uses evidence of a correlation ("My father's standard of living is nowhere near as high as his parents' was") to argue the existence of a causal relationship ("and my own standard of living is already higher than that of my parents").

The causal relationship is established when Siegried says "That's simply untrue". [Well why is Brunhilda's statement untrue?]***[BECAUSE]*** "My father's standard of living is nowhere near as high as his parents' was [ CORRELATION], "and my own standard ofliving is already higher than that of my parents [CORRELATION]"

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