Critical Reasoning

Town Representative: The new advertisements protesting plans by the town to build a new pier for large cruise ships have been appearing daily. The advertisements claim that the new pier will bring in more cruise ships and ruin the quaint charm of the town. However, these claims can be dismissed. Most of these advertisements were paid for by a major developer who currently profits greatly from allowing cruise ships to offload passengers at his property when they anchor in the nearby bay.

Which of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the town representative's argument?

A. It focuses on the motivations for the people making a particular claim without considering the motivations of other people making the same claim.
B. It directly attacks the merits of the claims made in the advertisements but does not provide evidence to support the opposing view.
C. It mischaracterizes the views put forth in the advertisements and then directly attacks these mischaracterized views.
D. It rejects a claim by addressing the motivations for the people making it rather than by addressing its actual merits.
E. It fails to consider the possibility that some of these advertisements were paid for by town advocates with legitimate concerns on the effects of cruise ships.

OA D

Source: Veritas Prep

The logic is in trying to find which option that accurately describes a flaw in the representative s argument.

Option A:- Incorrect
Since the project has been approved by the local authorities, and its been financed by a major developer the, both of their arguments must be put into perspectives i.e the arguments of those protesting for. This isn't necessarily a flaw.

Option B:- Incorrect
This is very true that it attacks although objectively the merits of the claim however, it didn't provide enough evidence to show its not being sponsored by those opposed to the plans.

Option C:- Incorrect
This isn't entirely the writer's point of view because both parties "for and against" have interests which are mischaracterized in itself.

Option D:- correct
This is actually the position of the writer on the protesting advertisements which directly addresses the merits of their claim all in all. This happens to be a major flaw in the argument.

Option E:- Incorrect
In as much as there exists divided interests in the build up to the protests there's likewise a reason to without doubts believe there are genuine protesters on the parts of some of the locals.