One Zydol capsule contains twice the pain reliever found in regular a

Official Explanation

Step 1: Identify the Question Type

This is a Weaken question.

Step 2: Untangle the Stimulus

The conclusion is that consumers can be expected to switch to Zydol. The evidence is that although they have to take two aspirins to get the relief provided by one Zydol, a bottle of Zydol costs the same as a bottle of aspirin. There are two assumptions here - one is that Zydol really is the better value, while the other is that there are no unstated, factors that would make consumers not want to switch.

Step 3: Predict the Answer

A weakener will attack the author's assumption. Here, it will either suggest that Zydol is not as great a value as it appears, or that there is some other difference between the two medicines that would make consumers not switch to Zydol.

Step 4: Evaluate the Choices

(A) shows that Zydol is not a better value after all. While the bottles cost the same, and consumers have to take twice as many aspirin to get the same amount of pain reliever, aspirin bottles contain more than twice as many pills in them. In the end, aspirin is actual cheaper per dosage. This makes it less likely consumers will stop taking aspirin and switch to Zydol, and therefore (A) is correct.

(B) doesn't make it less likely that consumers will switch to Zydol. The argument is about pain relief and which medicine is a better value. If the pain reliever is essentially the same, a potential difference between the pills is removed, and the issue of value becomes even more important. (B) doesn't address that issue.

(C) points out something undesirable about Zydol, yet by itself doesn't make it less likely that consumers will switch to Zydol. The reason is that (C) doesn’t indicate whether these same headache sufferers experience a brief period of dizziness shortly after taking aspirin as well. More information is needed, so (C) cannot be said to weaken the argument.

(D) brings up other drugs, which have no effect on the argument concerning just Zydol and aspirin.

(E) is incorrect because there is no way of determining whether the size of the capsules is relevant. Perhaps consumers prefer the larger Zydol capsule size, perhaps they prefer the smaller aspirin size. It's impossible to determine from (E), so (E) cannot be said to weaken the argument.

TAKEAWAY: With Weaken questions, keep the focus on the connection between the stated evidence and the conclusion - the assumption. Don't forget that the task is to attack that connection. That will make it easier to avoid wrong choices.

Answer: A