WeakenDiff: Hardest
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: In countries where people eat more fat, cancer rates are higher, so the author suggests that you personally should eat less fat to avoid getting cancer.
Conclusion: Individuals should decrease their consumption of fat to lower their likelihood of developing cancer.
Reasoning: Data shows a direct correlation between the average fat intake of a country's population and the national rate of cancer cases.
Analysis: This argument suffers from a classic correlation-to-causation error, specifically moving from a broad population statistic to an individual recommendation. Just because countries with high fat intake have more cancer doesn't mean fat is the cause; there could be other factors like industrial pollution or sedentary lifestyles common in those specific nations. To weaken this, look for an answer choice that suggests the correlation is coincidental or that other variables are responsible for the cancer rates. We want to find evidence that shows reducing fat intake might not actually change an individual's specific risk profile.
Conclusion: Individuals should decrease their consumption of fat to lower their likelihood of developing cancer.
Reasoning: Data shows a direct correlation between the average fat intake of a country's population and the national rate of cancer cases.
Analysis: This argument suffers from a classic correlation-to-causation error, specifically moving from a broad population statistic to an individual recommendation. Just because countries with high fat intake have more cancer doesn't mean fat is the cause; there could be other factors like industrial pollution or sedentary lifestyles common in those specific nations. To weaken this, look for an answer choice that suggests the correlation is coincidental or that other variables are responsible for the cancer rates. We want to find evidence that shows reducing fat intake might not actually change an individual's specific risk profile.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage12.Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
Correct Answer
D
If countries with high average fat intake also have the highest environmental pollution, pollution could be the true driver of higher cancer incidence. That undermines the claim that individuals can reduce cancer risk by cutting fat, because the observed country-level pattern could be due to pollution rather than fat intake.
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