WeakenDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: More people skip their flights on Friday the 13th than on other days, so the author thinks it's because they are afraid of bad luck.
Conclusion: A significant portion of the population avoids flying on Friday the 13th due to superstition.
Reasoning: Data shows that flight cancellations and no-shows were 17 percent higher on Friday the 13th than on any other day that year.
Analysis: The author assumes the reason for the cancellations is superstition, but correlation doesn't equal causation. We need to find an alternative explanation for why people might miss flights specifically on those days. Look for an answer that suggests a non-superstitious reason, like a specific weather event or a recurring scheduling conflict that happened to fall on those dates. If there's a logical reason for the cancellations that has nothing to do with luck, the argument falls apart.
Conclusion: A significant portion of the population avoids flying on Friday the 13th due to superstition.
Reasoning: Data shows that flight cancellations and no-shows were 17 percent higher on Friday the 13th than on any other day that year.
Analysis: The author assumes the reason for the cancellations is superstition, but correlation doesn't equal causation. We need to find an alternative explanation for why people might miss flights specifically on those days. Look for an answer that suggests a non-superstitious reason, like a specific weather event or a recurring scheduling conflict that happened to fall on those dates. If there's a logical reason for the cancellations that has nothing to do with luck, the argument falls apart.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage10.Which one of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
Correct Answer
C
Severe weather at several major airports on the Fridays that fell on the thirteenth provides a strong alternative cause for the higher cancellation/no-show rate. If weather explains the spike, it’s not evidence that people canceled due to superstition, weakening the argument’s causal inference.
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