WeakenDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: People who watch a lot of TV are more afraid of disasters, so the author concludes that TV is what's making them scared.
Conclusion: Watching excessive amounts of television causes people to overestimate the dangers of the real world.
Reasoning: A study showed that heavy television viewers are more likely to believe they will be victims of natural disasters than light viewers.
Analysis: The argument jumps from a correlation (TV watching and fear) to a causal claim (TV causes fear). To weaken this, we need to suggest that the relationship might work in the opposite direction or be caused by a third factor. Perhaps people who are already fearful of the world stay indoors more and thus watch more TV, or perhaps people in high-risk areas watch more TV for news updates. Look for an answer choice that offers an alternative explanation for why these two things are seen together.
Conclusion: Watching excessive amounts of television causes people to overestimate the dangers of the real world.
Reasoning: A study showed that heavy television viewers are more likely to believe they will be victims of natural disasters than light viewers.
Analysis: The argument jumps from a correlation (TV watching and fear) to a causal claim (TV causes fear). To weaken this, we need to suggest that the relationship might work in the opposite direction or be caused by a third factor. Perhaps people who are already fearful of the world stay indoors more and thus watch more TV, or perhaps people in high-risk areas watch more TV for news updates. Look for an answer choice that offers an alternative explanation for why these two things are seen together.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage16.Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the reasoning above?
Correct Answer
E
E supplies a confound: living in disaster-prone areas makes people more likely to watch more TV and to believe they’re likely to be victims. That alternative explanation breaks the causal link the argument asserts between TV watching and overestimating risk.
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