A recreational airplane manufacturer's advertisement states, "The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports that the AZ121 aircraft has the fewest fatalities per crash landing of any aircraft in its class." The advertisement goes on to claim that the AZ121 is one of the safest planes available today.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument in the advertisement?
(A) THE NTSB listed many planes in other classes that had more fatalities per crash landing than did the AZ121.
(B) Despite its popularity, the AZ121 is a relatively new aircraft, only having been sold on the market for two years.
(C) Recreational aircraft are more likely to be involved in crash landings than are other types of airplanes.
(D) The rate of fatalities per crash landing of the AZ121 is more than five times lower than the next highest rate of fatalities per crash landing in its class.
(E) The NTSB issues its safety reports on a monthly basis.
Correct Answer: C
The correct answer to this question is (C). This is a Weaken question, requiring the test taker to choose the correct answer that provides information that refutes, or casts doubt upon, the claim that the AZ121 is one of the safest planes currently available.
(A) is incorrect because it strengthens, rather than weakens, the conclusion.
(B) is incorrect as is out of Scope; that the AZ121 is relatively new on the market and is popular is not related to it being one of the safest on the market.
(C) This is the correct answer, which properly recognizes a weakness in the argument; specifically, simply because the AZ121 has the fewest fatalities out of a class of aircraft that has the most crash landings does not make it the safest aircraft out of all classes.
(D) is incorrect as is out of Scope; the rate within the class, already knowing that it is the lowest in the class, does not weaken the conclusion;
(E) is incorrect as is out of Scope; the frequency of reports has no effect on the conclusion.