A film is more likely to have a complex storyline when it is directed ...
Argument Analysis
Pre-Thinking
Conclusion Clarification
The author concludes that total number of films with poor BO collections directed by AWDs would be greater than total number of films with poor BO collections directed by NAWDs. The conclusion is based on the fact that AWDs are more likely to direct a film with CS, and irrespective of the awards won by the director, films with CS are more likely to perform worse at box office than films without CS. All other factors behind poor performance of films at box office are unrelated to awards won by the directors.
Pre-Thinking Approach
To pre-think a flaw in the reasoning, let’s see how we can falsify this conclusion. To do so, we will look at the logical structure, focusing on linkage 1 and the conclusion. We will understand the condition under which the conclusion is falsified. Thus, the flaw would show a logical gap in the author’s reasoning while reaching the conclusion.
Linkage#1 –
- Falsification Condition: What if the total number of films directed by NAWDs is significantly more than that directed by AWDs? In such a case, there may not be more films with poor BO collections with AWDs than with NAWDs.
- Flaw: The argument is vulnerable to the criticisms that there is an abrupt jump from the premises given to the conclusion drawn. The argument has arrived at the conclusion without comparing the actual total number of films made by Academy Award winning directors and the ones made by the rest of the directors.
To understand the same, please consider the following scenario:
With this pre-thinking in mind, let’s evaluate the answer choices.
Answer Choices
A
It ignores the fact that a film that does not do well on the box-office may eventually do well when broadcasted on TV.
Incorrect - No flaw
This statement is of no relevance to the argument since the argument is concerned with the performance of the films only at the box office.
B
It fails to consider a scenario in which the number of films directed by directors who have not won Academy Awards is significantly more than that directed by directors who have won Academy Awards.
Correct
This choice is written along the lines of our pre-thinking per Linkage #1. It points out that the argument does not compare the actual total number of films made by AWDs and NAWDs. If we see the pre-thinking example, we can notice that the author’s conclusion is incorrect for the particular scenario.
C
It identifies one aspect of the films as the sole determinant of their box office performance without considering other possible aspects.
Incorrect - No flaw
This statement is incorrect since the passage does talk about “other factors” besides a complex storyline that determine a film’s performance at the box office. The passage says that all other factors are not related to awards won by directors.
D
It fails to consider a scenario in which directors may be aware of the fact that a complex storyline may not translate into a successful box-office collection.
Incorrect - No flaw
The awareness of directors regarding the eventual box-office performance of their films is of no relevance to the author’s conclusion.
E
It fails to factor in the number of films with poor box-office collections that were directed by Academy Award-winning directors and that ultimately won critical acclaim.
Incorrect - No flaw
This statement is irrelevant since the author’s conclusion is concerned with only the box-office performance of such films.