PrepTest 50, Section 2, Question 10
Letter to the editor: Recently, the city council passed an ordinance that prohibits loitering at the local shopping mall. The council's declared goal was to eliminate overcrowding and alleviate pedestrian congestion, thereby improving the mall's business and restoring its family-oriented image. But despite these claims, reducing overcrowding and congestion cannot be the actual goals of this measure, because even when fully implemented, the ordinance would not accomplish them.
Letter to the editor: Recently, the city council passed an ordinance that prohibits loitering at the local shopping mall. The council's declared goal was to eliminate overcrowding and alleviate pedestrian congestion, thereby improving the mall's business and restoring its family-oriented image. But despite these claims, reducing overcrowding and congestion cannot be the actual goals of this measure, because even when fully implemented, the ordinance would not accomplish them.
Letter to the editor: Recently, the city council passed an ordinance that prohibits loitering at the local shopping mall. The council's declared goal was to eliminate overcrowding and alleviate pedestrian congestion, thereby improving the mall's business and restoring its family-oriented image. But despite these claims, reducing overcrowding and congestion cannot be the actual goals of this measure, because even when fully implemented, the ordinance would not accomplish them.
Letter to the editor: Recently, the city council passed an ordinance that prohibits loitering at the local shopping mall. The council's declared goal was to eliminate overcrowding and alleviate pedestrian congestion, thereby improving the mall's business and restoring its family-oriented image. But despite these claims, reducing overcrowding and congestion cannot be the actual goals of this measure, because even when fully implemented, the ordinance would not accomplish them.
Which one of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the argument's reasoning?
The argument ignores the possibility that an action may achieve its secondary goals even if it does not achieve its primary goals.
The argument takes for granted that something cannot be the goal of an action performed unless the action will in fact achieve that goal.
The argument dismisses a claim because of its source rather than because of its content.
The argument takes for granted that an action that does not accomplish its stated goals will not have any beneficial effects.
The argument treats a condition that is necessary for achieving an action's stated goals as if this condition were sufficient for achieving these goals.
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