Self-paced
Commissioner: Support Budget forecasters project a revenue shortfall of a billion dollars in the coming fiscal year. █████ █████ ██ ██ ████████ ███ ██ ████████ ███ █████████ ██████ ███ ████ ██████ ██ ██ ████████ █████████████ ███ ████ ██████ ███ ████████ ████████ ████ ████ █████ █████ ███████ ██ █ ███████ ███████ ████ ███ ██████ ██████ █████ ██ ████ ██ ████ ██ █████ ███ ███████ ██ █████ ██████████ ████ ██ ██ █████ ████ █████
Summarize Argument
The commissioner concludes that the only way to solve the problem of the revenue shortfall is by adopting his plan. He supports this with three premises:
(1) Budget forecasters predict a billion-dollar shortfall next year.
(2) We can't increase funds, so we must cut spending.
(3) This plan would cut spending and save a billion dollars.
Identify and Describe Flaw
This is the cookie-cutter flaw of mistaking sufficiency for necessity. The author treats “his plan” as necessary for “solve the problem.” But according to the premises, “his plan” is sufficient, not necessary.
In other words, the commissioner’s argument is flawed because he ignores the possibility that some other plan or solution could also solve the revenue shortfall. His plan might not be the only option.
6.
The reasoning in the commissioner's ████████ ██ ██████ ███████ ████ ████████
a
relies on information ████ ██ ███ ████ ███████
We have no reason to doubt the forecasters’ prediction and we can’t assume that it’s uncertain.
b
confuses being an ████████ ████████ ████ █████ █ ████████ ████████
The commissioner confuses an adequate (or sufficient) solution— his plan— with being a required (or necessary) solution. But just because his plan would solve the problem doesn't mean that it’s the only way to solve the problem.
c
inappropriately relies on ███ ████████ ██ ███████
The commissioner points to budget forecasters’ prediction about next year’s revenue shortfall. He relies on experts, but he doesn’t do so inappropriately since the experts’ prediction is within their own field.
d
inappropriately employs language ████ ██ █████
The commissioner uses clear and precise language throughout his argument. He doesn't inappropriately rely on vague language.
e
takes for granted ████ █████ ██ ██ ███ ██ ████████ █████████ █████
The commissioner’s claim that there is no way to increase funds is a premise; we must accept that it’s true. So (E) doesn't describe a flaw in his argument.