Archaeologists have discovered that ancient settlements located near copper mines contain significantly higher quantities of elaborate pottery than other settlements. Some historians conclude that the wealth generated by copper mining allowed the inhabitants to invest heavily in pottery making. This conclusion is doubtful, however. Settlements near copper mines were almost always situated along major trade routes, and location on a major trade route facilitated the importation of elaborate pottery from other regions.
Which of the following arguments exhibits a pattern of reasoning most similar to that in the argument above?
- Patients who consume a diet rich in leafy greens have a lower risk of developing vision problems. Therefore, some dietitians assert that leafy greens protect against vision loss. But this assertion is questionable. People who eat leafy greens are also more likely to wear UV-blocking sunglasses, and wearing UV-blocking sunglasses prevents damage to the eyes.Cevap
- BRegions that experience frequent thunderstorms also have higher rates of agricultural productivity. It might seem that thunderstorms improve crop yields. However, this is incorrect. High humidity levels in these regions both trigger frequent thunderstorms and provide ideal growing conditions for crops.
- CEmployees who take frequent short breaks report higher overall job satisfaction. Management concludes that taking short breaks causes increased job satisfaction. This conclusion is flawed. Every employee who takes frequent short breaks also works in a department with flexible deadlines, and flexible deadlines always lead to higher job satisfaction.
- DStartup companies that utilize open-plan offices report higher levels of employee collaboration. Some architects claim that open-plan designs foster collaboration. This is probably false. It is much more likely that startup founders who already prioritize a culture of collaboration purposefully choose open-plan offices for their teams.
- EChildren who read for an hour before bed sleep more soundly than those who watch television. Some parents assume that reading promotes better sleep. This assumption is flawed. Recent surveys show that very few children actually read for a full hour before bed, so it cannot be the primary cause of sound sleep.
Cevap
The correct argument matches the structure of the stimulus by explaining a correlation between two variables (leafy greens and lower vision problems) through a third, associated variable (UV-blocking sunglasses) that causes the effect, rather than a direct causal link.
The stimulus argument presents an observed correlation between two things (near copper mines and elaborate pottery). It then casts doubt on a proposed direct causal relationship between them by introducing a third factor (major trade routes) that is correlated with the first factor and actually causes the second. The correct option identically matches this structure: it doubts the direct causal claim between leafy greens and vision protection by pointing out that people eating leafy greens also tend to wear UV-blocking sunglasses, which is the actual cause of the protection.
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Anahtar Kavram
Parallel Causal Reasoning and Alternative Explanations