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07 Aug 2012, 15:12
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A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
5%
(low)
Question Stats:
94% (00:51) correct
6%
(01:08)
wrong
based on 5506
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Homeowners aged 40 to 50 are more likely to purchase ice cream and are more likely to purchase it in larger amounts than are members of any other demographic group. The popular belief that teenagers eat more ice cream than adults must, therefore, be false.
The argument is flawed primarily because the author
(A) fails to distinguish between purchasing and consuming
(B) does not supply information about homeowners in age groups other than 40 to 50
(C) depends on popular belief rather than on documented research findings
(D) does not specify the precise amount of ice cream purchased by any demographic group
(E) discusses ice cream rather than more nutritious and healthful foods
The argument is flawed primarily because the author
(A) fails to distinguish between purchasing and consuming
(B) does not supply information about homeowners in age groups other than 40 to 50
(C) depends on popular belief rather than on documented research findings
(D) does not specify the precise amount of ice cream purchased by any demographic group
(E) discusses ice cream rather than more nutritious and healthful foods
Argument Evaluation
Situation
Adults aged 40 to 50 buy more ice cream than does any other demographic group (for example, teenagers). Does this mean that adults consume more ice cream than teenagers do?
Reasoning
A flawed assumption underlies the reasoning: the assumption that the buyers of the ice cream are also the eaters of the ice cream. Although the demographic group homeowners aged 40 to 50 purchases more ice cream than does any other demographic group, it is quite likely that much of the ice cream purchased by those homeowners is for consumption by family members rather than for exclusive consumption by the purchaser. This leaves open the possibility that teenagers may indeed be the largest consumers of ice cream.
(A) Correct. The failure to make this distinction led to the making of the flawed assumption.
(B) This is false: The argument tells us (indirectly) that homeowners aged 40 to 50 buy more ice cream than does any other group—which allows us to infer that they buy more than do homeowners aged 30 to 40, for example. But even if the argument had stated such information explicitly, it would not have offered any better support for its conclusion.
(C) There is nothing in the argument to suggest that the information given is based on popular belief.
(D) Providing precise information about the quantity of ice cream purchased by homeowners aged 40 to 50 would not improve the argument at all.
(E) The subject is ice cream, not nutrition, so this point is irrelevant.
The correct answer is A.
Situation
Adults aged 40 to 50 buy more ice cream than does any other demographic group (for example, teenagers). Does this mean that adults consume more ice cream than teenagers do?
Reasoning
A flawed assumption underlies the reasoning: the assumption that the buyers of the ice cream are also the eaters of the ice cream. Although the demographic group homeowners aged 40 to 50 purchases more ice cream than does any other demographic group, it is quite likely that much of the ice cream purchased by those homeowners is for consumption by family members rather than for exclusive consumption by the purchaser. This leaves open the possibility that teenagers may indeed be the largest consumers of ice cream.
(A) Correct. The failure to make this distinction led to the making of the flawed assumption.
(B) This is false: The argument tells us (indirectly) that homeowners aged 40 to 50 buy more ice cream than does any other group—which allows us to infer that they buy more than do homeowners aged 30 to 40, for example. But even if the argument had stated such information explicitly, it would not have offered any better support for its conclusion.
(C) There is nothing in the argument to suggest that the information given is based on popular belief.
(D) Providing precise information about the quantity of ice cream purchased by homeowners aged 40 to 50 would not improve the argument at all.
(E) The subject is ice cream, not nutrition, so this point is irrelevant.
The correct answer is A.
28 Feb 2021, 04:31
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This Flaw question is fairly easy. The correct answer is option A.
Given:
- Homeowners aged 40-50 are more likely to purchase ice cream and purchase in large amounts than members from any other demographic group (say 15-30, 50-70 etc.)
Conclusion:
The popular belief that teenagers eat more ice cream than adults must, therefore, be false.
The author makes the above conclusion based on the one data point given. We need to identify the flaw in the reasoning.
The question we ask: In what scenario would teenagers still be the main consumers (eat more ice cream) than adults, despite the fact that homeowners aged 40-50 are the main purchasers of ice cream and not teenagers?
As you think about this, it is easily to visualize the logical gap here - the gap between purchase and consumption. Just because 40-50 year olds are the major purchasers, it does not mean they are the biggest consumers. What if these 40-50 year olds buy so much ice cream for their teenage kids at home to consumer?
That is the situation the author has not considered. And so the flaw in the argument: the author did not differentiate between purchase and consumption. The biggest purchaser need not be the biggest consumer.
Option Choice Analysis
(A) fails to distinguish between purchasing and consuming
Correct. Exactly what we have discussed above.
(B) does not supply information about homeowners in age groups other than 40 to 50
Even if the author provided more information about other age groups, say 25-40, 10-25 etc, it does not address the core issue of the argument. For example, even if say 13-19 (teenagers) purchase information was given and it is lesser than 40-50, then the author would still make the same conclusion that teens are not the biggest consumers. And it would still be a flawed argument based on flawed logic.
(C) depends on popular belief rather than on documented research findings
This may probably be relevant if a popular belief (which may not be supported by documented research) was used to make a particular conclusion. Then, the validity of the belief can be questioned to ask if the conclusion is valid. Not relevant here. In this argument, the conclusion (claim) is not made on the basis of a popular belief, instead the conclusion is about a popular belief. Big difference! Option C cannot be a flaw in this argument.
(D) does not specify the precise amount of ice cream purchased by any demographic group
It is not a necessary detail for this argument to be made. The argument is purely a comparison between demographics. Exact amounts do not matter, or have any impact on teh argument
(E) discusses ice cream rather than more nutritious and healthful foods
Completely irrelevant to the argument, cannot be the flaw.
Regards,
Harsha
Given:
- Homeowners aged 40-50 are more likely to purchase ice cream and purchase in large amounts than members from any other demographic group (say 15-30, 50-70 etc.)
Conclusion:
The popular belief that teenagers eat more ice cream than adults must, therefore, be false.
The author makes the above conclusion based on the one data point given. We need to identify the flaw in the reasoning.
The question we ask: In what scenario would teenagers still be the main consumers (eat more ice cream) than adults, despite the fact that homeowners aged 40-50 are the main purchasers of ice cream and not teenagers?
As you think about this, it is easily to visualize the logical gap here - the gap between purchase and consumption. Just because 40-50 year olds are the major purchasers, it does not mean they are the biggest consumers. What if these 40-50 year olds buy so much ice cream for their teenage kids at home to consumer?
That is the situation the author has not considered. And so the flaw in the argument: the author did not differentiate between purchase and consumption. The biggest purchaser need not be the biggest consumer.
Option Choice Analysis
(A) fails to distinguish between purchasing and consuming
Correct. Exactly what we have discussed above.
(B) does not supply information about homeowners in age groups other than 40 to 50
Even if the author provided more information about other age groups, say 25-40, 10-25 etc, it does not address the core issue of the argument. For example, even if say 13-19 (teenagers) purchase information was given and it is lesser than 40-50, then the author would still make the same conclusion that teens are not the biggest consumers. And it would still be a flawed argument based on flawed logic.
(C) depends on popular belief rather than on documented research findings
This may probably be relevant if a popular belief (which may not be supported by documented research) was used to make a particular conclusion. Then, the validity of the belief can be questioned to ask if the conclusion is valid. Not relevant here. In this argument, the conclusion (claim) is not made on the basis of a popular belief, instead the conclusion is about a popular belief. Big difference! Option C cannot be a flaw in this argument.
(D) does not specify the precise amount of ice cream purchased by any demographic group
It is not a necessary detail for this argument to be made. The argument is purely a comparison between demographics. Exact amounts do not matter, or have any impact on teh argument
(E) discusses ice cream rather than more nutritious and healthful foods
Completely irrelevant to the argument, cannot be the flaw.
Regards,
Harsha
General Discussion
07 Aug 2012, 15:34
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straight (A) elderly people purchase ice cream more than the young ones but the young ones consume the ice cream more than the elderly people.Possibly the elderly people buy ice creams for the younger family members.
