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

Question

In the past, most children who went sledding in the winter in Verland used wooden sleds with runners and steering bars. Ten years ago, smooth plastic sleds became popular; they go faster than wooden sleds but are harder to steer. The concern 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 ten years ago.

Which of the following, if true in Verland, 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 ten years ago.

E. Because the traditional wooden sleds can carry more than one rider, an accident involving a wooden sled can result in several children being injured.

Bunuel · Answer

Similar question from older OGs to practice: https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-the-past- ... 70538.html

MartyMurray · Answer

In the past, most children who went sledding in the winter in Verland used wooden sleds with runners and steering bars. Ten years ago, smooth plastic sleds became popular; they go faster than wooden sleds but are harder to steer. The concern 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 ten years ago.

Conclusion:

The concern that plastic sleds are more dangerous is clearly borne out

Supporting premises:

Ten years ago, smooth plastic sleds became popular; they go faster than wooden sleds but are harder to steer.

and

the number of children injured while sledding was much higher last winter than it was ten years ago

We see that the reasoning of the argument is basically that, since there has been a correlation between increased use of plastic sleds and an increase in the number of sledding injuries, plastic sleds must be more dangerous.

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

The correct answer to this Weaken question will show that, even though the premises are true, the conclusion may not be.

A. A few children still use traditional wooden sleds.

Regardless the fact that "a few": children still use wooden sleds, it remains true that plastic sleds have become popular. So, the increase in injuries correlates with an increase in plastic sled use.

So, this choice no effect on the argument.

Eliminate.

B. Most sledding injuries occur when a sled collides with a tree, a rock, or another sled.

This detail about how injuries occur does not indicate whether an increase in collisions is attributable to the increased popularity of plastic sleds.

Eliminate.

C. Very few children wear any kind of protective gear, such as helmets, while sledding.

Presumably, this has been true all along, not only recently.

So, children not wearing protective gear would not be an alternative explanation for the increase in injuries in recent years.

Thus, this choice has no effect on the strength of the argument.

Eliminate.

D. Because plastic sleds are less expensive than wooden sleds, many more children own a sled now than did ten years ago.

This choice is interesting.

After all, if this is true, then it could be the the reason more children were injured last winter than ten years ago is simply that the number of children sledding has increased.

So, this choice weakens the argument by suggesting an alternative cause for the increase in injuries.

Keep.

E. Because the traditional wooden sleds can carry more than one rider, an accident involving a wooden sled can result in several children being injured.

This choice could seem to indicate that wooden sleds are more dangerous than plastic ones.

We have to be careful though because, while this choice indicates that multiple children can be injured in one accident involving a wooden sled, there has been an increase in injuries since plastic sleds became popular. So, despite what this choice says, injuries were less common when wooden sleds were used.

Thus, even if this choice is true, it still appears that plastic sleds are more dangerous than wooden ones.

Eliminate.

Correct answer:   D

guddo · Answer

In the past, most children who went sledding in the winter in Verland used wooden sleds with runners and steering bars. Ten years ago, smooth plastic sleds became popular; they go faster than wooden sleds but are harder to steer. The concern 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 ten years ago. 
 
Which of the following, if true in Verland, most seriously undermines the force of the evidence cited?

The argument uses a higher total number of injuries to show that plastic sleds are more dangerous.  The weakness is that total injuries can rise simply because more children are sledding , not because each sledding trip is  more dangerous .

A. A few children still use traditional wooden sleds.

This does not weaken the argument. It gives no reason why the total number of injuries rose.

B. Most sledding injuries occur when a sled collides with a tree, a rock, or another sled.

This may even fit the concern about plastic sleds, since sleds that are harder to steer could collide more often.

C. Very few children wear any kind of protective gear, such as helmets, while sledding.

This does not weaken the evidence unless we know that protective gear use changed over time.

D. Because plastic sleds are less expensive than wooden sleds, many more children own a sled now than did ten years ago.

This is correct. If many more children own sleds now, then more children may be sledding, so the total number of injuries could be higher even if plastic sleds are not more dangerous per use.

E. Because the traditional wooden sleds can carry more than one rider, an accident involving a wooden sled can result in several children being injured.

This does not weaken the argument. If anything, it suggests wooden sleds can also produce many injuries, but it does not explain why injuries increased after plastic sleds became popular.

Answer: (D)

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

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

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

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