Bunuel wrote:
A number of serious amateur photographers have tested the new Apheron digital camera. With it, they observed that the camera took photographs with much finer detail both in bright and low light situations than with the 10-megapixel Norwich, even though the Norwich cameras offer a higher resolution at 10 megapixels than the 8-megapixel Apheron cameras. Given these amateur photographers’ observational findings, any serious photographer ought to choose the Apheron if she or he is buying a digital camera for both bright and low light situations.
Which of the following most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) The lens in the Apheron digital camera is made of a different substance than that used in other digital cameras.
(B) With digital cameras, the size of the sensor is more important than the number of pixels when it comes to taking photographs in bright or low light.
(C) The quality of detail in photographs is only one of several factors that, when taken together, should determine whether the camera is worth purchasing.
(D) The amateur photographers made their observations and comparisons during several different sessions and at different times of the day.
(E) Many serious amateur photographers have no intention of buying a digital camera to take photographs under such extreme conditions.
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
Answer: C
STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task.This is a Weaken question. It asks you to find an answer that weakens the argument.
STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind.Look back at the basis for the camera recommendation, in this case that the camera offers finer detail despite its having a lower resolution than the other
competing Norwich cameras.
STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for.The correct answer will cast doubt on the relationship between the premises and the conclusion.
STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice.With answer A the makeup of the lens does not change the results discussed in the argument, so this does not weaken the basis for the recommendation. Answer B is not much different from answer A, except with regard to sensor size instead of lens substance. For answer C, the criterion under which the argument makes its recommendation is the finer detail the camera is able to achieve in both bright and low light situations. If other criteria exist for amateur photographers when considering a camera, then the argument is most definitely weakened and this would seem to be your correct answer. Answer D describes conditions under which the testing results seem more credible rather than weaker. Answer E may weaken another argument, one that argues against digital cameras, but it does not weaken the recommendation that if photographers do consider a digital camera, they should consider the Apheron over others. The correct choice is answer C.
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