- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8950
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:00 am
#37406
Complete Question Explanation
Strengthen—PR. The correct answer choice is (A)
The advice columnist describes a correlation between stress and injury in competitive sports: those
who experience major stress in their lives are several times more likely to suffer serious injuries than
are other participants in competitive sports. This correlation is used as evidence to conclude that no
sports activity should be used as a method for coping with stress. You should immediately notice that
the conclusion goes too far: the studies only measured the likelihood of injury among participants
in competitive sports. The conclusion, however, cautions against participating in any sports activity.
The columnist’s argument would have been far stronger if he limited the scope of his conclusion to
competitive sports.
Note that the question stem is a Strengthen—PR, not a Justify—PR because of the presence of
the word “most” in the question stem, which weakens the force required of the correct answer. In
a Strengthen—PR question, the correct answer will provide a premise that, when applied to the
specific situation in the stimulus, helps support the conclusion. Since we already know that the
columnist made a conclusion about the risk posed by all sports activities on the basis of evidence
regarding a subset of these activities (i.e. competitive sports), the correct answer choice must fill that
gap. Answer choice (D) contains a statement that is closest to this prephrase.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Although the wording of this answer choice
is fairly abstract, it does connect the risk of sustaining injury from competitive sports (a subset of
sport activities) to the risk of sustaining injury from all sports activities.
Answer choice (B): This answer choice implies that scientific scrutiny is a necessary condition
for using any method for coping with stress. This does not help justify the reasoning, because the
columnist cautions against participating in any sports activity as a method for coping with stress,
whereas the studies only focused on competitive sports. Therefore, there is no evidence that his
recommendation was subjected to scientific study.
Answer choice (C): This is the Reverse answer. The studies show that people who have been
experiencing stress in their lives should not participate in competitive sports. The columnist’s advice
does not pertain to people who are not experiencing stress.
Answer choice (D): This is the Opposite answer, as it encourages those who have been under stress
to engage in competitive sports. If true, this advice would contradict the columnist’s reasoning.
Answer choice (E): This is an attractive answer choice, because it tries to associate the risk of injury
with stress. However, since columnist’s advice applies to everyone trying to use sports activity as a
method for coping with stress, not specifically to people with a history of sports injuries, this answer
choice does not help justify his reasoning.
Strengthen—PR. The correct answer choice is (A)
The advice columnist describes a correlation between stress and injury in competitive sports: those
who experience major stress in their lives are several times more likely to suffer serious injuries than
are other participants in competitive sports. This correlation is used as evidence to conclude that no
sports activity should be used as a method for coping with stress. You should immediately notice that
the conclusion goes too far: the studies only measured the likelihood of injury among participants
in competitive sports. The conclusion, however, cautions against participating in any sports activity.
The columnist’s argument would have been far stronger if he limited the scope of his conclusion to
competitive sports.
Note that the question stem is a Strengthen—PR, not a Justify—PR because of the presence of
the word “most” in the question stem, which weakens the force required of the correct answer. In
a Strengthen—PR question, the correct answer will provide a premise that, when applied to the
specific situation in the stimulus, helps support the conclusion. Since we already know that the
columnist made a conclusion about the risk posed by all sports activities on the basis of evidence
regarding a subset of these activities (i.e. competitive sports), the correct answer choice must fill that
gap. Answer choice (D) contains a statement that is closest to this prephrase.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Although the wording of this answer choice
is fairly abstract, it does connect the risk of sustaining injury from competitive sports (a subset of
sport activities) to the risk of sustaining injury from all sports activities.
Answer choice (B): This answer choice implies that scientific scrutiny is a necessary condition
for using any method for coping with stress. This does not help justify the reasoning, because the
columnist cautions against participating in any sports activity as a method for coping with stress,
whereas the studies only focused on competitive sports. Therefore, there is no evidence that his
recommendation was subjected to scientific study.
Answer choice (C): This is the Reverse answer. The studies show that people who have been
experiencing stress in their lives should not participate in competitive sports. The columnist’s advice
does not pertain to people who are not experiencing stress.
Answer choice (D): This is the Opposite answer, as it encourages those who have been under stress
to engage in competitive sports. If true, this advice would contradict the columnist’s reasoning.
Answer choice (E): This is an attractive answer choice, because it tries to associate the risk of injury
with stress. However, since columnist’s advice applies to everyone trying to use sports activity as a
method for coping with stress, not specifically to people with a history of sports injuries, this answer
choice does not help justify his reasoning.
