- Fri Apr 09, 2021 1:33 pm
#86233
Hey Seeker,
That is a great example.
So the stimulus in the question is flawed because it says the student body as a whole takes a wide range of courses, like when all the students are pooled together, they take a wide range of courses. So when the conclusion says Miriam, a student, takes a wide range of courses, that is an invalid conclusion, because the argument went from the whole of the student body to a specific student in an invalid way. The premise implied that the whole of the student body takes a wide range of courses, not that every student takes a wide range of courses. We want a correct answer choice that makes that same whole to parts error.
Now answer choi toce A, says the students at this school take mathematics, therefore Miguel who is a student takes mathematics. This is a much more valid argument; the premise seems to be implying every student takes mathematics. There is no exact rule here that makes this the case, you just have to think about it in a logical way and try and discern what the testmakers are implying.
Whereas answer choice B is making a more similar logical error to the stimulus. Answer choice B essentially says the editorial board writes on a wide array of issues therefore Louise, who is on the editorial board, writes on a wide array of issues. This is also a flawed whole to parts argument so that is why it is correct. The premise said the editorial board as a whole writes on a wide range of issues, that does not mean that every member writes on a wide range of issues.
I hope my explanation helps. To answer your specific question:
"Does the inclusion of "The" before "students" make it logically equivalent to "All students"?
The before students is irrelevant. There's not a specific rule you can apply here and then extrapolate, sadly.
Best,
Ryan