#12 - A recent study found that snoring, though not common

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Weaken-CE. The correct answer choice is (A)

This passage cites a study which shows that snoring is more common among smokers, so the referenced author concluded that smoking might cause snoring. Since we are asked to weaken this causal argument, and we know that the effect under discussion is snoring, we are probably looking for an answer choice which provides an alternative cause, or leads us to question whether smoking could be the cause.

Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice, which provides, as predicted, an alternative cause for snoring—stress.

Answer choice (B): The cause of smoking is not at issue here—the question is whether smoking causes snoring.

Answer choice (C): This tells us nothing about whether or not smoking might cause snoring.

Answer choice (D): Like answer choice (C) above, this proportion provides no insight into the question of whether there is a causal link between smoking and snoring.

Answer choice (E): Similar to incorrect answer choice (B) above, this is irrelevant. Effects of smoking or snoring have nothing to do with whether smoking might cause snoring.

[hanvan]

Hi there,
The right answer is A. I understand this is the right answer, but I also see the choice D, it really looks good. I actually picked D, because I think: " the cause happen but effect does not happen", this one can weaken the stimulus also! Am I right? Please help! Thanks.

[Steve Stein]

That's a cause-effect question in which a causal relationship is hypothesized between smoking (the suggested cause) and snoring (the hypothesized effect).

There are several ways to weaken a causal hypothesis, and answer choice A provides an effective example of an alternative cause. If stress can be the cause of both smoking and snoring, that weakens the case for smoking as the sole cause.

As for answer choice D, the author has already provided that most smokers do not snore--smoking, says the author, is "not common in either group."

I hope that's helpful--let me know if it's clear--thanks!

~Steve

[hanvan]

Thanks, Steve! I got it!

[Sdaoud17]

would you agree that D is counter example bc if you I said that some , many , most of my friends that who smokes dont snore shows a counter Example for that Smoking cause Snoring.

What do you think ?


Thank you

[Steve Stein]

Hi Sdaoud17,

In that one, the author begins by saying that snoring is not common in smokers or non-smokers. Specifying that most smokers do not snore has no effect on the argument.

I hope that's helpful! Please let me know--thanks!

~Steve

[Sdaoud17]

It does cite that . when the Author said "is more common among smokers than among nonsmokers"

am I correct ?

[Steve Stein]

The author says that snoring is not common in either group (which means that whether you're a smoker or a non-smoker, it's not particularly likely that you will snore.
The fact that it is more common (though still uncommon) among smokers than among non-smokers doesn't change that.

I hope that's helpful! Let me know--thanks!

~Steve

[prep88]

Hello,

Here I have a causal conclusion: smoking snoring,
I don't get why (D) is wrong, if there are smokers who do not snore, doesn't it weaken the conclusion by showing that while the cause is present (smoking), the effect (snoring) doesn't occure?

Thank you!)

[Lucas Moreau]

Hello, prep88,

D isn't right because it's not providing any helpful new information. You are over-reading the conclusion in the stimulus somewhat: it's not exactly smoking snoring, that implies that smoking always causes snoring. Rather, the conclusion is that smoking can lead to snoring, not that it necessarily has to. As such, D isn't a useful answer choice in terms of weakening that conclusion.

A is a better answer choice, because it attacks the notion that the smoking causes the snoring - rather, it suggests that both smoking and snoring have a common cause, namely, stress. So it isn't smoking that cause snoring, it's stress that causes both of them; smoking by itself may not actually cause snoring.

Hope that helps,
Lucas Moreau