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12 Aug 2024, 01:30
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C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
55%
(hard)
Question Stats:
65% (02:07) correct
35%
(02:11)
wrong
based on 288
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
For years, a considerable number of students on West County High School's track team complained about shin splints (medial tibial syndrome). However, during the most recent season, the number of students who complained about shin splints dropped significantly. School officials assert that this reduction in complaints occurred entirely as a result of the school's decision to build a new running track that provided a softer running surface, which absorbed much of the shock on the knees and shins that occurs when running and causes shin splints.
Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the school officials' explanation for the decrease in complaints about shin splints?
(A) As a result of West County High School's adoption of better medical staff and new medical scanning devices, many students whose complaints would have been diagnosed in years past as an instance of shin splints are now diagnosed with a different condition.
(B) West County High School built its track after a number of neighboring schools with similar track teams built new tracks and each school saw the number of complaints about shin splints drop.
(C) This past season, members of West County High School's track team received and wore new and highly acclaimed shoes designed to soften the impact of running on the shin and knee.
(D) This past season, the total number of students who complained of pain while running rose.
(E) The maker of the new track claims that on average, complaints about shin splints fall 25% when its tracks are implemented.
Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the school officials' explanation for the decrease in complaints about shin splints?
(A) As a result of West County High School's adoption of better medical staff and new medical scanning devices, many students whose complaints would have been diagnosed in years past as an instance of shin splints are now diagnosed with a different condition.
(B) West County High School built its track after a number of neighboring schools with similar track teams built new tracks and each school saw the number of complaints about shin splints drop.
(C) This past season, members of West County High School's track team received and wore new and highly acclaimed shoes designed to soften the impact of running on the shin and knee.
(D) This past season, the total number of students who complained of pain while running rose.
(E) The maker of the new track claims that on average, complaints about shin splints fall 25% when its tracks are implemented.
12 Aug 2024, 03:27
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To solve this question, let us deploy IMS's four-step technique.
STEP #1 -> IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE
Let us read the question stem to identify the question type.
STEP #2 -> X-RAY THE ARGUMENT
In a weakening question, it is a must to x-ray the argument and deconstruct it. Since we are to weaken the school officials' explanation for the decrease in complaints about shin splints, let us figure out the explanation as we x-ray the argument.
OBSERVATIONS: -> For years, a considerable number of students on West County High School's track team complained about shin splints.
-> During the most recent season, the number of students who complained about shin splints dropped significantly.
STEP #3 -> FRAME A SHADOW ANSWER
To frame a shadow answer, we need to know what the correct answer should do. Remember, we are required to weaken the school officials' explanation for the decrease in complaints about shin splints; thus, the correct answer must cast doubt on the explanation.
SHADOW ANSWER: Any situation that leads us to believe that the reduction in complaints about shin splints did not occur entirely as a result of the school's decision to build a new running track that provided a softer running surface during the most recent season.
STEP #4 -> ELIMINATE INCORRECT OPTIONS
Options that do not match the shadow answer can be eliminated.
(A) As a result of West County High School's adoption of better medical staff and new medical scanning devices, many students whose complaints would have been diagnosed in years past as an instance of shin splints are now diagnosed with a different condition. | NOT A MATCH | The argument states that a considerable number of students on West County High School's track team complained about shin splints for years. For one, this option does not tell us whether the students whose complaints would have been diagnosed in years past as an instance of shin splints were actually from the track team. Second, it does not indicate whether the students who complained were actually diagnosed by the school's medical staff. They might have had the diagnosis performed outside of the school. Clearly, this option does not lead us to believe that the reduction in complaints about shin splints did not occur entirely as a result of the school's decision to build a new running track that provided a softer running surface during the most recent season. | ELIMINATE
(B) West County High School built its track after a number of neighboring schools with similar track teams built new tracks and each school saw the number of complaints about shin splints drop. | NOT A MATCH | If West County High School built its track after a number of neighboring schools with similar track teams built new tracks and each school saw the number of complaints about shin splints drop, it does not give us any reason to believe that the reduction in complaints about shin splints did not occur entirely as a result of the school's decision to build a new running track that provided a softer running surface during the most recent season. For one, this option does not tell us whether the building of the track transpired right before the most recent season; second, we do not know from the option if the track built by West County High School was similar or dissimilar to the one built by the neighboring schools. If anything, this option reeks of irrelevance. | ELIMINATE
(C) This past season, members of West County High School's track team received and wore new and highly acclaimed shoes designed to soften the impact of running on the shin and knee. | MATCHES THE SHADOW ANSWER | The fact that this option mentions both 'this past season' and 'West County High School's track team' gives it credibility. Now, if members of West County High School's track team actually received and wore new and highly acclaimed shoes designed to soften the impact of running on the shin and knee in the past season, we have a valid reason to believe that the reduction in complaints about shin splints did not occur entirely as a result of the school's decision to build a new running track that provided a softer running surface during the most recent season. The new running track could have been partly responsible for the reduction in complaints, not entirely for sure. | KEEP
(D) This past season, the total number of students who complained of pain while running rose. | NOT A MATCH | Whether or not the total number of students who complained of pain while running rose is irrelevant to understanding if the reduction in complaints about shin splints did not occur entirely as a result of the school's decision to build a new running track. Also, notice that this option does not tell us if the students complaining of pain used the newly-built track while running. | ELIMINATE
(E) The maker of the new track claims that on average, complaints about shin splints fall 25% when its tracks are implemented. | NOT A MATCH | Not worried about what the maker of the new track claims. | ELIMINATE
Therefore, (C) has to be the correct answer.
STEP #1 -> IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE
Let us read the question stem to identify the question type.
Quote:
The stem indicates a weakening question.
STEP #2 -> X-RAY THE ARGUMENT
In a weakening question, it is a must to x-ray the argument and deconstruct it. Since we are to weaken the school officials' explanation for the decrease in complaints about shin splints, let us figure out the explanation as we x-ray the argument.
Quote:
EXPLANATION: The reduction in complaints about shin splints occurred entirely as a result of the school's decision to build a new running track that provided a softer running surface, which absorbed much of the shock on the knees and shins that occurs when running and causes shin splints.
OBSERVATIONS: -> For years, a considerable number of students on West County High School's track team complained about shin splints.
-> During the most recent season, the number of students who complained about shin splints dropped significantly.
STEP #3 -> FRAME A SHADOW ANSWER
To frame a shadow answer, we need to know what the correct answer should do. Remember, we are required to weaken the school officials' explanation for the decrease in complaints about shin splints; thus, the correct answer must cast doubt on the explanation.
SHADOW ANSWER: Any situation that leads us to believe that the reduction in complaints about shin splints did not occur entirely as a result of the school's decision to build a new running track that provided a softer running surface during the most recent season.
STEP #4 -> ELIMINATE INCORRECT OPTIONS
Options that do not match the shadow answer can be eliminated.
(A) As a result of West County High School's adoption of better medical staff and new medical scanning devices, many students whose complaints would have been diagnosed in years past as an instance of shin splints are now diagnosed with a different condition. | NOT A MATCH | The argument states that a considerable number of students on West County High School's track team complained about shin splints for years. For one, this option does not tell us whether the students whose complaints would have been diagnosed in years past as an instance of shin splints were actually from the track team. Second, it does not indicate whether the students who complained were actually diagnosed by the school's medical staff. They might have had the diagnosis performed outside of the school. Clearly, this option does not lead us to believe that the reduction in complaints about shin splints did not occur entirely as a result of the school's decision to build a new running track that provided a softer running surface during the most recent season. | ELIMINATE
(B) West County High School built its track after a number of neighboring schools with similar track teams built new tracks and each school saw the number of complaints about shin splints drop. | NOT A MATCH | If West County High School built its track after a number of neighboring schools with similar track teams built new tracks and each school saw the number of complaints about shin splints drop, it does not give us any reason to believe that the reduction in complaints about shin splints did not occur entirely as a result of the school's decision to build a new running track that provided a softer running surface during the most recent season. For one, this option does not tell us whether the building of the track transpired right before the most recent season; second, we do not know from the option if the track built by West County High School was similar or dissimilar to the one built by the neighboring schools. If anything, this option reeks of irrelevance. | ELIMINATE
(C) This past season, members of West County High School's track team received and wore new and highly acclaimed shoes designed to soften the impact of running on the shin and knee. | MATCHES THE SHADOW ANSWER | The fact that this option mentions both 'this past season' and 'West County High School's track team' gives it credibility. Now, if members of West County High School's track team actually received and wore new and highly acclaimed shoes designed to soften the impact of running on the shin and knee in the past season, we have a valid reason to believe that the reduction in complaints about shin splints did not occur entirely as a result of the school's decision to build a new running track that provided a softer running surface during the most recent season. The new running track could have been partly responsible for the reduction in complaints, not entirely for sure. | KEEP
(D) This past season, the total number of students who complained of pain while running rose. | NOT A MATCH | Whether or not the total number of students who complained of pain while running rose is irrelevant to understanding if the reduction in complaints about shin splints did not occur entirely as a result of the school's decision to build a new running track. Also, notice that this option does not tell us if the students complaining of pain used the newly-built track while running. | ELIMINATE
(E) The maker of the new track claims that on average, complaints about shin splints fall 25% when its tracks are implemented. | NOT A MATCH | Not worried about what the maker of the new track claims. | ELIMINATE
Therefore, (C) has to be the correct answer.
General Discussion
01 Sep 2024, 15:00
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Bunuel
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
The school authorities argue that the new track "entirely" caused the reduction in "complaints" about shin splints. There are two important points about this argument.
(1) The argument of the school administrators is based upon a reduction in the number of complaints about shin splints, which is not the same as a reduction in the number of actual instances. It is entirely possible that students complain about shin splints and yet actually have other problems.
(2) The argument of the school administrators established a causal relationship (i.e., the new track caused the reduction). This is a much more assertive and broad claim than simply noticing that the two are correlated (i.e., occurred together).
A. The argument made by West County High School officials is based upon the fact that "the number of students who complained about shin splints dropped significantly." This answer would weaken an argument that dealt with the number of diagnosed instances of shin splints. However, the school administrators make their argument only because of a reduction in the number of "claims."
B. This answer significantly strengthens the argument of the high school administrators by noting that other schools experienced a link between a new track and a decrease in claims about shin splints.
C. This answer calls into question the school's assertion that the new track was "entirely" responsible for the reduction in claims of shin splints. The answer does this through providing an alternative and viable (but not necessarily competing) explanation of the reduction in claims of shin splints.
D. The original argument pertains to complaints about shin splints in particular (not the number of students who "complained of pain while running"). This answer confuses complaints in general with complaints about shin splints in particular.
E. This answer strengthens the school officials' claim instead of weakening it as it provides more evidence that the new track helped decrease complaints of shin splints.
