WeakenDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: A study found that people in big cars get hurt less often in crashes than people in small cars, so the author concludes big cars are safer.
Conclusion: Driving a large car makes you less likely to suffer an injury during a car crash compared to driving a small car.
Reasoning: Data from 10,000 accidents shows a lower injury rate for those in large vehicles and a higher rate for those in small vehicles.
Analysis: The argument assumes the size of the car is the cause of the lower injury rate, but it ignores the type of driver. If safer, more cautious people tend to buy large cars while reckless people buy small ones, the car size might not be the real reason for the safety difference. To weaken this, look for an answer that suggests an alternative explanation for the data, such as driver behavior or the specific types of accidents each car tends to get into. It’s a classic case of correlation not necessarily equaling causation.
Conclusion: Driving a large car makes you less likely to suffer an injury during a car crash compared to driving a small car.
Reasoning: Data from 10,000 accidents shows a lower injury rate for those in large vehicles and a higher rate for those in small vehicles.
Analysis: The argument assumes the size of the car is the cause of the lower injury rate, but it ignores the type of driver. If safer, more cautious people tend to buy large cars while reckless people buy small ones, the car size might not be the real reason for the safety difference. To weaken this, look for an answer that suggests an alternative explanation for the data, such as driver behavior or the specific types of accidents each car tends to get into. It’s a classic case of correlation not necessarily equaling causation.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage13.Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
Correct Answer
D
If large automobiles are far more likely to be in accidents, then even with a lower injury rate per accident, large-car drivers could face equal or greater overall injury risk. This undercuts the conclusion that driving a large car makes one less likely to be injured in an automobile accident.
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