Flawed ReasoningDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: If we cut ozone by one-fifth, we will save one-fifth of the $5 billion we currently spend on ozone-related health problems.
Conclusion: Implementing new air pollution measures would result in a savings of approximately $1 billion in health-related costs.
Reasoning: The proposed measures would reduce ozone levels by 20 percent, and currently, ozone is responsible for $5 billion in health expenditures.
Analysis: This argument assumes a perfectly linear relationship between the amount of a pollutant and the cost of the damage it causes. It presumes that every unit of ozone contributes equally to the $5 billion total, meaning a 20% reduction in the gas must equal a 20% reduction in cost. However, it is possible that even a small amount of ozone causes the bulk of the health issues, or that the relationship is exponential rather than proportional. Look for an answer that identifies this mathematical assumption as the logical gap.
Conclusion: Implementing new air pollution measures would result in a savings of approximately $1 billion in health-related costs.
Reasoning: The proposed measures would reduce ozone levels by 20 percent, and currently, ozone is responsible for $5 billion in health expenditures.
Analysis: This argument assumes a perfectly linear relationship between the amount of a pollutant and the cost of the damage it causes. It presumes that every unit of ozone contributes equally to the $5 billion total, meaning a 20% reduction in the gas must equal a 20% reduction in cost. However, it is possible that even a small amount of ozone causes the bulk of the health issues, or that the relationship is exponential rather than proportional. Look for an answer that identifies this mathematical assumption as the logical gap.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage6.The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it
Correct Answer
B
B identifies the core flaw: it presumes, without evidence, that ozone-related health costs vary roughly in proportion to ozone levels. That’s exactly how the argument jumps from a 20% ozone drop to an “about $1 billion” cost drop.
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