PrepTest 38, Section 3, Question 2
Ms. Smith: I am upset that my son's entire class lost two days of recess because some of the children were throwing raisins in the cafeteria. He was not throwing raisins, and it was clear to everyone just who the culprits were.
Ms. Smith: I am upset that my son's entire class lost two days of recess because some of the children were throwing raisins in the cafeteria. He was not throwing raisins, and it was clear to everyone just who the culprits were.
Principal: I'm sorry you're upset, Ms. Smith, but your son's situation is like being caught in a traffic jam caused by an accident. People who aren't involved in the accident nevertheless have to suffer by sitting there in the middle of it.
Ms. Smith: I am upset that my son's entire class lost two days of recess because some of the children were throwing raisins in the cafeteria. He was not throwing raisins, and it was clear to everyone just who the culprits were.
Principal: I'm sorry you're upset, Ms. Smith, but your son's situation is like being caught in a traffic jam caused by an accident. People who aren't involved in the accident nevertheless have to suffer by sitting there in the middle of it.
Ms. Smith: I am upset that my son's entire class lost two days of recess because some of the children were throwing raisins in the cafeteria. He was not throwing raisins, and it was clear to everyone just who the culprits were.
The principal's response to Ms. Smith's complaint is most vulnerable to criticism on which one of the following grounds?
It makes a generalization about all the children in the class which is not justified by the facts.
It suggests that throwing raisins in the cafeteria produces as much inconvenience as does being caught in a traffic jam.
It does not acknowledge the fact that a traffic jam following an accident is unavoidable while the mass punishment was avoidable.
It assumes that Ms. Smith's son is guilty when there is evidence to the contrary which the principal has disregarded.
It attempts to confuse the point at issue by introducing irrelevant facts about the incident.
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