#13 - Nearly every criminal trial includes eyewitness

[avengingangel]

How does A support their hypothesis at all? Just because "nearly every criminal trial includes eyewitness testimony" and "eyewitnesses' reports are the most common reason for conviction," that tells us nothing about "mistaken convictions." You would have to have additional information (as in a PREMISE, not a conclusion) that indicates something about mistakes. Am I wrong? Thanks.

[Adam Tyson]

If eyewitness reports are the most common cause for conviction, that strengthens the idea that they are a common cause of mistaken convictions simply because the numbers become slightly more persuasive. It doesn't prove the hypothesis, not by a long shot, but it at least helps a little bit. To see this, imagine what impact the opposite claim might have - what if eyewitness reports very rarely led to any convictions? Then you would have good reason to doubt that they contribute to many mistaken convictions, right?

For a strengthen question, including a strengthen-Except question, the strengthen answers don't have to have a big impact, angel. All they have to do is help, even if only a little. For this question, answer D is better because it doesn't help at all, and might even hurt a little bit.

I hope that helps, even if just a little!