Read part of a letter, published in a newspaper, from a citizen who opposed a plan to cut down diseased trees in a local park.

Question

Those trees have provided pleasant shade to generations of folks. The notice on the trees said that they had black-spot disease. But can this town really trust the same parks department that won't replace the dangerous bridge in Bell Park? How can a regular person really tell if the trees have black-spot disease? They look healthy to me, and I am in the park every day.

How sound is the citizen's reasoning in this part of the letter?

Responses

The reasoning is not very sound, because the citizen uses ad hominem to attack the parks department.
The reasoning is not very sound, because the citizen uses ad hominem to attack the parks department.

The reasoning is not very sound, because the citizen makes a logical connection that focuses more on the trees than on the bridge.
The reasoning is not very sound, because the citizen makes a logical connection that focuses more on the trees than on the bridge.

The reasoning is sound, because the citizen offers sufficient evidence against the opposing view of the claim.
The reasoning is sound, because the citizen offers sufficient evidence against the opposing view of the claim.

The reasoning is sound, because the citizen provides evidence in the form of expert advice and stories.
The reasoning is sound, because the citizen provides evidence in the form of expert advice and stories.

Answer 1

The reasoning is not very sound, because the citizen uses ad hominem to attack the parks department.

The citizen's argument relies on questioning the credibility of the parks department rather than addressing the issue of the trees' health directly. Additionally, the claim that the trees look healthy is subjective and does not constitute sufficient evidence against the diagnosis of black-spot disease. Instead of providing expert advice or verifiable evidence, the citizen’s statement reflects personal opinion and skepticism towards the parks department’s authority.