Match each argument on the left with the piece of counter-evidence on the right that most effectively weakens its conclusion.
- To increase overall productivity, the city government should adopt a 4-day workweek, just as TechCorp did when they saw a 20% boost in output.TechCorp's employees work on self-directed, flexible projects, unlike most city workers whose roles require daily, scheduled public service.
- The mayor's new law enforcement policies are highly effective, as violent crime has dropped by 15% since she took office.A recent demographic shift has significantly reduced the proportion of the city's population in the age group most likely to commit crimes.
- Most home cooks clearly prefer gas stoves, since a recent survey of 'Gourmet Chef' magazine readers showed that 80% prefer gas over electric.The readers of the surveyed publication consist almost entirely of professional chefs whose equipment needs differ from those of average households.
- The city should install more crosswalks to reduce pedestrian accidents, given that the downtown area has the most crosswalks and the lowest accident rate.The downtown district features constant traffic congestion and strict 15-mph speed limits that naturally prevent most traffic-related injuries.
Answer
The correct pairings match each argument with the specific counter-evidence that exploits its logical flaw: the workweek argument pairs with the differing job roles; the crime argument pairs with the demographic shift; the stove preference argument pairs with the unrepresentative survey sample; and the crosswalk argument pairs with the alternate cause of low speed limits.
Each argument contains a distinct logical flaw: a false analogy, a correlation-causation error, a sampling bias, and a third-variable issue. The correct pairings directly exploit these specific gaps, providing alternative explanations or demonstrating that the premises do not guarantee the conclusions.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying and exploiting specific logical flaws in arguments, such as false analogies, alternate causes, biased samples, and third-variable correlations.