Question

Though the Great Fakir is a well-respected illusionist and escape artist, he has recently become outspokenly critical of the performance act of the Magnificent Mystic, calling it largely staged and fake. The Magnificent Mystic's stage act involves a "Buried Alive" set-piece, wherein he appears to be placed in a coffin which is then wrapped in chains, and lowered into a make-shift grave, only to reappear from the side of the stage after several minutes. The Great Fakir criticized the Magnificent Mystic's act in an editorial as "an obvious form of mechanical trickery," but the Great Fakir's own world-famous performance act uses mechanical devices such as boxes, ladders, and glass panes to create his own stage illusions, which have helped him become the world's most popular touring magician.
The argument's reasoning is most open to criticism on the basis that it:

• A. attacks the morality of the Magnificent Mystic's stage act rather than its efficacy.
• B. implies popularity lends credibility.
• C. undermines the credentials of the Great Fakir.
• D. differentiates between types of mechanical trickery.
• E. suggests that there is no difference between the two magicians' acts.

Hint:

When critiquing an argument, focus on whether the critique is based on relevant aspects, such as efficacy or creativity, rather than irrelevant ones, such as morality.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Analyzing the flaw in the argument.
The Great Fakir criticizes the Magnificent Mystic's act for being "an obvious form of mechanical trickery" but does not focus on the effectiveness or creativity of the stage act. The flaw in reasoning lies in attacking the morality of the act rather than addressing the actual quality or efficacy of the performance.

Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (A) This is the correct answer, as the criticism targets the moral aspect of the act, rather than its practical effectiveness.
- (B) Popularity is not the primary focus of the argument.
- (C) The argument does not attack the credentials of the Great Fakir.
- (D) The distinction between types of mechanical trickery is not the flaw in the argument.
- (E) The argument does not suggest that both magicians' acts are the same; it focuses on a moral critique.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (A), as the argument focuses on attacking the morality of the Mystic's act rather than discussing its effectiveness.