WeakenDiff: Medium

Logic Breakdown

Passage Summary: Some people want to ban things like vitamins in sports because they aren't 'natural.' The author thinks this is silly because equipment like high-tech shoes is also unnatural but allowed, and we should focus on bigger problems instead.

Conclusion: The use of nonaddictive drugs by athletes should not be prohibited.

Reasoning: The argument that nonaddictive drugs are 'unnatural' is inconsistent because many accepted sports tools are also unnatural, and there are more significant safety issues in sports that deserve attention.

Analysis: To weaken this argument, we need to find a reason to ban nonaddictive drugs that doesn't rely on the 'unnatural' label. The author successfully knocks down the 'purist' argument by pointing out its inconsistency, but then assumes that because one specific reason for a ban is bad, no good reasons exist. Look for an answer that suggests nonaddictive drugs might be harmful or provide an unfair advantage in a way that shoes and gloves do not. Just because a 'purist' is wrong about the 'unnatural' label doesn't mean the drugs are actually safe or fair for competition.

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16.

Which one of the following statements, if true, would be the strongest challenge to the author's conclusion?

Correct Answer
E
If massive doses of aspirin or vitamins can be physically harmful, that supplies a direct reason to prohibit them, undermining the conclusion that they should not be prohibited. It neutralizes the author’s dismissal of “unnaturalness” by introducing a stronger, safety-based objection.
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