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Sociologist: Over the past fifteen years, the average time citizens spend reading books has dropped dramatically, yet the national average score on the standardized Literacy Competency Exam (LCE) has remained perfectly stable. Technology advocates argue this stability demonstrates that frequent engagement with modern, text-heavy digital media provides the same literacy benefits as reading traditional books. This conclusion is fundamentally flawed. The stability in the average LCE score is solely due to the exceptionally high scores of the oldest demographic cohorts, who acquired their literacy skills prior to the digital age. Therefore, frequent engagement with digital media is not merely an inadequate substitute for books, but actually detrimental to an individual's literacy.

Which one of the following, if true, most strongly supports the sociologist's argument?

  1. A
    The oldest demographic cohorts have adopted digital media usage at unprecedented rates over the past fifteen years without demonstrating any decline in their individual LCE scores.
  2. B
    The high LCE scores of the oldest demographic cohorts are largely attributable to the permanent cognitive benefits derived from decades of traditional book reading.
  3. Among individuals who spend an equally minimal amount of time reading traditional books, those who frequently engage with digital media score substantially lower on the LCE than those who rarely use digital media.Answer
  4. D
    The fifteen-year decline in traditional book reading has been mirrored by a proportional decline in the reading of long-form print magazines and newspapers.
  5. E
    Despite claims to the contrary by technology advocates, the national average score on the LCE has actually experienced a slight, statistically significant decline over the past fifteen years.

Answer

The correct answer is the option stating that among individuals who rarely read books, those who frequently engage with digital media score substantially lower than those who rarely use digital media.
The argument concludes that digital media is actively 'detrimental' to literacy, rather than just being an 'inadequate substitute' for books. This is a massive logical leap. Even if younger people are reading fewer books and scoring lower, their lower scores might solely be due to the lack of books, meaning digital media is just neutral. The correct answer strengthens the argument by isolating digital media as a variable: it compares two groups who both lack book reading, and shows that adding digital media makes scores worse. This proves digital media actively harms literacy.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main conclusion of the argument.
The conclusion is that 'frequent engagement with digital media is not merely an inadequate substitute for books, but actually detrimental to an individual's literacy.'
This is the final causal claim the sociologist makes in opposition to the technology advocates.
2
Analyze the premises and identify the logical gap.
The premises state that younger people's lower scores are masked by older people's high scores. The gap is the assumption that the younger generation's lower scores are actively caused by digital media (a detriment), rather than simply caused by their lack of book reading (a missing benefit).
To strengthen the argument, the correct answer must provide evidence that digital media causes active harm, independent of the harm caused by simply not reading.
3
Evaluate the options for one that isolates the causal variable.
The correct option compares two groups that BOTH read very few books. Because the group that uses digital media scores worse than the group that does not, digital media is proven to exert an active detrimental effect.
This bridges the exact logical gap, elevating digital media from an 'inadequate substitute' to an 'active detriment.'

Key Concept

Causal Isolation and Alternative Explanations
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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