- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8950
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Tue Jul 04, 2017 1:44 pm
#36826
Complete Question Explanation
Weaken. The correct answer choice is (C)
The reasoning in this stimulus is fairly straightforward, though not completely sound:
Premise: If Jones were to swallow a particular chemical, a blood deficiency would result, causing
inflammation to his skin.
time to exhibit signs of inflammation. This leap in logic will likely be important, especially considering
that we are asked to weaken the argument.
Answer choice (A): Even if Jones did not know the chemical was dangerous, he would not necessarily
seek to consume it; most would avoid ingesting random unlabeled chemicals.
Answer choice (B): Jones’ having suffered inflammation in the past makes it no more or less likely that
he consumed the chemical in this instance.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. If it takes 48 hours for the deficiency to occur,
it may take even longer for the rash to appear. Jones was rushed to the emergency room after falling
unconscious, so the absence of other symptoms proves nothing about whether he consumed the chemical
in question. This represents an effective attack on the doctor’s flawed reasoning.
Answer choice (D): It is impossible to determine the exact effect of Jones’ having worked with the
chemical. Jones could have become careless around the chemical, or, knowing the dangers involved,
become more careful. Perhaps Jones was suicidal. In any case, this response has nothing to do with the
causal association of the chemical and the symptoms, so this choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): Since Jones showed no signs of inflammation, it is completely irrelevant that there
are other possible causes of inflammation.
Weaken. The correct answer choice is (C)
The reasoning in this stimulus is fairly straightforward, though not completely sound:
Premise: If Jones were to swallow a particular chemical, a blood deficiency would result, causing
inflammation to his skin.
- Premise: Jones’ skin was not inflamed when he was admitted to the ER.
Conclusion: Therefore Jones must not have swallowed the chemical.
time to exhibit signs of inflammation. This leap in logic will likely be important, especially considering
that we are asked to weaken the argument.
Answer choice (A): Even if Jones did not know the chemical was dangerous, he would not necessarily
seek to consume it; most would avoid ingesting random unlabeled chemicals.
Answer choice (B): Jones’ having suffered inflammation in the past makes it no more or less likely that
he consumed the chemical in this instance.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. If it takes 48 hours for the deficiency to occur,
it may take even longer for the rash to appear. Jones was rushed to the emergency room after falling
unconscious, so the absence of other symptoms proves nothing about whether he consumed the chemical
in question. This represents an effective attack on the doctor’s flawed reasoning.
Answer choice (D): It is impossible to determine the exact effect of Jones’ having worked with the
chemical. Jones could have become careless around the chemical, or, knowing the dangers involved,
become more careful. Perhaps Jones was suicidal. In any case, this response has nothing to do with the
causal association of the chemical and the symptoms, so this choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): Since Jones showed no signs of inflammation, it is completely irrelevant that there
are other possible causes of inflammation.