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Difficulty: EasyWeakening Arguments

A municipal transit agency observed that after introducing free Wi-Fi service on city buses six months ago, overall passenger satisfaction ratings increased by 20 percent. The agency concluded that providing free Wi-Fi service was the primary reason for the increase in passenger satisfaction. Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the transit agency's conclusion?

  1. During the same six-month period, the transit agency replaced its entire fleet of old buses with brand-new, comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles.Answer
  2. B
    Surveyed passengers frequently noted that free Wi-Fi allowed them to work productively during their daily commute.
  3. C
    Installing Wi-Fi equipment on city buses cost the transit agency significantly more money than originally budgeted.
  4. D
    A neighboring city experienced a similar rise in passenger satisfaction after introducing Wi-Fi on its commuter trains.
  5. E
    The transit agency plans to expand free Wi-Fi service to city train stations by the end of next year.

Answer

The correct answer is the option stating that during the same six-month period, the transit agency replaced its entire fleet of old buses with brand-new, comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles.
The conclusion asserts a direct causal relationship between the addition of free Wi-Fi and higher passenger satisfaction ratings. The statement indicating that the fleet was completely replaced with brand-new, comfortable, air-conditioned buses during the exact same timeframe introduces a compelling alternative cause for the increased satisfaction, directly undermining the claim that Wi-Fi was responsible.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the premise and conclusion of the argument.
Premise: Passenger satisfaction rose by 20% after free Wi-Fi was added to buses. Conclusion: Free Wi-Fi caused the rise in satisfaction.
Isolating the causal claim is necessary to understand how to undermine it.
2
Determine the strategy for weakening a causal claim.
Look for an alternative cause occurring during the exact same timeframe that could account for the increase in satisfaction.
If another major positive change occurred at the same time, the satisfaction surge cannot be attributed solely to the Wi-Fi service.
3
Evaluate the choices to find a valid alternative cause.
Upgrading the entire bus fleet to new, air-conditioned vehicles provides a clear alternative explanation for higher rider satisfaction.
This alternative cause severely weakens the agency's conclusion that Wi-Fi was the primary driver of the positive ratings.

Key Concept

Weakening Causal Arguments via Alternative Causes
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Topics

Weakening Arguments

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