- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8916
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:00 am
#72530
Complete Question Explanation
Weaken. The correct answer choice is (B)
Answer choice (A): This answer does not hurt the argument because the
author qualified the conclusion to account for the date of the switchover,
thereby inoculating against this avenue of attack. From a personalizing
standpoint, imagine what would happen if you raised this issue to the
beverage company representative—he or she would simply say, “Yes, that
may be the case, but I noted in my conclusion that the program would be
effective once the switchover is complete.” This is an attractive answer
because it raises a point that would be a difficult public relations issue to
address. Regardless, this does not hurt the argument given by the beverage
company representative, and that is the task at hand.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer. Most people select answer
choice (E), but as you will see, (E) is incorrect. This answer undermines
the representative’s conclusion by showing that even after the switchover
is complete, the threat to animals from plastic rings will persist. Note the
carefully worded nature of the conclusion—the representative does not say
the threat from new plastic rings will be eliminated, but rather the threat
from plastic rings, which includes both old and new rings.
Answer choice (C): This out-of-scope answer addresses an issue that is
irrelevant to the representative’s argument.
Answer choice (D): While this is nice information from a customer service
standpoint (you do not want your six-pack of beer falling apart as you
walk out of the store), this answer does not affect the conclusion because it
does not address the threat of suffocation to animals.
Answer choice (E): This is the most commonly chosen answer, and it is a
perfect example of a Shell Game. In this case, the answer preys upon test
takers who fail to heed Primary Objective #4: “Read closely and know
precisely what the author said. Do not generalize!” Many test takers read
the conclusion and think, “So when they start using these new rings, it will
make things better for the animals.” When these test takers get to answer
choice (E), the answer looks extremely attractive because it indicates that
the implementation of the new rings will also have a harmful effect. With
this thinking in mind, many test takers select answer choice (E) thinking
it undermines the conclusion and they are certain they have nailed the
question. However, the conclusion is specifically about suffocation, and
answer choice (E) does not address suffocation. Instead, answer choice
(E) is a shell game that attacks a conclusion that is similar to but different
from the actual conclusion. Remember, one of the rules for weakening
arguments is to focus on the conclusion, and knowing the details of the
conclusion is part of that focus.
Weaken. The correct answer choice is (B)
Answer choice (A): This answer does not hurt the argument because the
author qualified the conclusion to account for the date of the switchover,
thereby inoculating against this avenue of attack. From a personalizing
standpoint, imagine what would happen if you raised this issue to the
beverage company representative—he or she would simply say, “Yes, that
may be the case, but I noted in my conclusion that the program would be
effective once the switchover is complete.” This is an attractive answer
because it raises a point that would be a difficult public relations issue to
address. Regardless, this does not hurt the argument given by the beverage
company representative, and that is the task at hand.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer. Most people select answer
choice (E), but as you will see, (E) is incorrect. This answer undermines
the representative’s conclusion by showing that even after the switchover
is complete, the threat to animals from plastic rings will persist. Note the
carefully worded nature of the conclusion—the representative does not say
the threat from new plastic rings will be eliminated, but rather the threat
from plastic rings, which includes both old and new rings.
Answer choice (C): This out-of-scope answer addresses an issue that is
irrelevant to the representative’s argument.
Answer choice (D): While this is nice information from a customer service
standpoint (you do not want your six-pack of beer falling apart as you
walk out of the store), this answer does not affect the conclusion because it
does not address the threat of suffocation to animals.
Answer choice (E): This is the most commonly chosen answer, and it is a
perfect example of a Shell Game. In this case, the answer preys upon test
takers who fail to heed Primary Objective #4: “Read closely and know
precisely what the author said. Do not generalize!” Many test takers read
the conclusion and think, “So when they start using these new rings, it will
make things better for the animals.” When these test takers get to answer
choice (E), the answer looks extremely attractive because it indicates that
the implementation of the new rings will also have a harmful effect. With
this thinking in mind, many test takers select answer choice (E) thinking
it undermines the conclusion and they are certain they have nailed the
question. However, the conclusion is specifically about suffocation, and
answer choice (E) does not address suffocation. Instead, answer choice
(E) is a shell game that attacks a conclusion that is similar to but different
from the actual conclusion. Remember, one of the rules for weakening
arguments is to focus on the conclusion, and knowing the details of the
conclusion is part of that focus.
