Toys and physical recreational products take up space and do not last

Question

Toys and physical recreational products take up space and do not last for long, contributing to the world's waste problem. Computer games are being developed rapidly to suit children of all ages. Computer games can just be deleted when a child gets bored with them. As part of the transformation into a digital age, parents should buy computer games instead of physical toys for their children to play with.

Which of the following, if true, calls the argument's conclusion into question?

A. Many software games exist that are both educational and fun for children.

B. Physical toys are primary sources of the stimulation needed for a child's development of motor skills.

C. The abundance of products and the high rate of purchasing by consumers has resulted in an increase in the volume of refuse throughout the world.

D. Some computer game software costs millions of dollars to develop and can require the work of more than 30 programmers.

E. A large percentage of toys and computer games are based upon characters that are animals, enriching a child's knowledge of nature.

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Uditakaushal1992 · Answer

Hi  Bunuel  - isn't the purpose here reduction in the waste generated by physical toys, the non-development of motor skills of children may not be of much concern?

_MUF__ · Answer

even i had that thought compare B with all other choice i think it is the closest to weaken the argument

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Toys and physical r  ecreational products take up space and do not last for long, contributing to the world's waste problem. Computer games are being developed rapidly to suit children of all ages. Computer games can just be deleted when a child gets bored with them. As part of the transformation into a digital age, parents should buy computer games instead of physical toys for their children to play with.

Which of the following, if true, calls the argument's conclusion into question?

A. Many software games exist that are both educational and fun for children.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Weakening question, first break down the argument. The first three sentences contain premises which provide factual data; the last sentence is a recommendation (should) so it's the argument's conclusion:

Premise A: physical toys waste space, do not last for long, and end up as trash
 +
Premise B: there are computer games for children of all ages
 +
Premise C: when a computer game becomes unwanted, it can be deleted
 =
Conclusion: parents should buy computer games

Possible assumption: physical toys do not have any advantage over software games

Weakening Data: ?

You are required to find data that weakens the conclusion that computer games should be bought rather than physical toys. The correct answer could be one that exposes the argument's assumption.

This answer choice strengthens the conclusion, but you are required to weaken it. Presenting the fact that many computer games combine fun and education just gives us another reason to believe that they are probably better than physical toys.

B. Physical toys are primary sources of the stimulation needed for a child's development of motor skills.

This answer choice exposes the conclusion's assumption by presenting a positive aspect of physical toys. The argument only provides evidence in support of computer games and, therefore, concludes that they are better. This answer choice undermines this conclusion by highlighting an advantage of physical games.

C. The abundance of products and the high rate of purchasing by consumers has resulted in an increase in the volume of refuse throughout the world.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Weakening question, first break down the argument. The first three sentences contain premises which provide factual data; the last sentence is a recommendation (should) so it's the argument's conclusion:

Premise A: physical toys waste space, do not last for long, and end up as trash
 +
Premise B: there are computer games for children of all ages
 +
Premise C: when a computer game becomes unwanted, it can be deleted
 =
Conclusion: parents should buy computer games

Possible assumption: physical toys do not have any advantage over software games

Weakening Data: ?

You are required to find data that weakens the conclusion that computer games should be bought rather than physical toys. The correct answer could be one that exposes the argument's assumption.

This answer choice strengthens the conclusion, but you are required to weaken it. Explaining how physical products increase the world's waste problem puts physical toys in a negative light, and promotes the idea that they are probably not as good as computer games.

D. Some computer game software costs millions of dollars to develop and can require the work of more than 30 programmers.

Incorrect.

This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion. All it does is provide a more details about the process of creating a computer game. This data is irrelevant to our task of weakening the conclusion since it doesn't really say anything positive or negative about the games.

E. A large percentage of toys and computer games are based upon characters that are animals, enriching a child's knowledge of nature.

Incorrect.

This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion. Since the data presented in this statement refers to both computer games and physical toys, it doesn't tip the scale in favor of either one of them.

Toys and physical recreational products take up space and do not last

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Toys and physical recreational products take up space and do not last

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