In the past, most children who went sledding in the winter

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In the past, most children who went sledding in the winter [#permalink]

02 Nov 2012, 08:16

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In the past, most children who went sledding in the winter in Kentucky used wooden sleds with runners and
steering bars. Fifteen years ago, smooth plastic sleds became popular; they go faster than wooden sleds but are
harder to steer. The fear that plastic sleds are more dangerous is clearly borne out by the fact that the number
of children injured while sledding was much higher last winter than it was fifteen years ago.

Which of the following, if true in Kentucky, most seriously undermines the force of the evidence cited?

A. A few children still use traditional wooden sleds.
B. Most sledding injuries occur when a sled collides with a tree, a rock, or another sled.
C. Very few children wear any kind of protective gear, such as helmets, while sledding.
D. Because plastic sleds are less expensive than wooden sleds, many more children own a sled now than did fifteen years ago.
E. An accident involving a wooden sled can result in several children being injured because the traditional wooden
sleds can carry more than one rider.

[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Last edited by gmatbull on 06 Nov 2012, 06:35, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: In the past, most children who went sledding in the winter [#permalink]

02 Nov 2012, 09:38

D is the correct answer. As sleds are more affordable today, more children have them, and thus the accidents are more. This undermines the theory that accidents are more because plastic sleds are more dangerous.

E is tempting. It states that a wooden sled accident might involve several injuries. However, we are interested in the number of injuries, not the number of accidents. The problem specifies at that today the number of injuries is higher than the number of injuries 15 years ago, so the number of accidents and the fact that one accident means several injuries are simply irrelevant.

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Re: In the past, most children who went sledding in the winter [#permalink]

02 Nov 2012, 10:33

We have to weaken the evidence
What is the evidence?
Large Number of accidents involving the plastic sleds...

E doesnt play any role in weaken

Only contender here is C and D

D wins over C since it weakens the problem specifically by suggesting that there are large number of accidents but comparatively the population of plastic sled user is even larger

Consider 100,000 People using plastic sled out of which 100 are involved in ana accident.
Is the number large.

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Re: In the past, most children who went sledding in the winter [#permalink]

06 Nov 2012, 06:41

The argument is attributing increase in number of accidents to steel.

Consider:
15yrs ago: 10 steel users with 2 accidents per user - 20 accidents
Now: 100 steel users with 2 accidents per user - 200 accidents

Although 200 accidents now from steel, we still cannot conclude steel are more dangerous
than wood.
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Re: In the past, most children who went sledding in the winter [#permalink]

08 Nov 2012, 06:09

Just using "The Most Comprehensive Guide of Everything Official - CR" which has the correct answer as "C. Plastic sleds can be used in a much wider variety of snow conditions than wooden sleds can", which isn't an answer choice above.

Actually, looking more closely it's not the same exact question as in the Most Comprehensive study guide as the one above compares accidents of 15 years ago as opposed to 10 years ago and takes place in Kentucky. Probably, explains why the answer choices don't match and why "C" is the correct choice in the Most Comprehensive study guide.

Re: In the past, most children who went sledding in the winter [#permalink] 08 Nov 2012, 06:09

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In the past, most children who went sledding in the winter

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