Question

A recent study claims that reading books increases intelligence. Which of the following would most weaken the argument?

• A. People who read regularly tend to perform better academically.
• B. Intelligence is influenced by many factors, not just reading.
• C. Reading improves memory, which is linked to intelligence.
• D. The study focused on young children only.

Hint:

To weaken a causal conclusion based on a study, look for answers that either: 1) suggest an alternative cause for the observed effect, 2) show that the cause can happen without the effect, or 3) point out a fundamental flaw in the study's methodology (like a biased sample).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This is a Critical Reasoning question that asks us to weaken an argument. The argument makes a causal claim (reading \(\rightarrow\) increased intelligence) based on a study. To weaken it, we should look for flaws in the study's methodology or alternative explanations for the findings.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The argument's conclusion is a general claim about the effect of reading.
- (A) People who read regularly tend to perform better academically. This shows a positive correlation between reading and another measure of cognitive ability (academic performance), which would strengthen, not weaken, the argument.
- (B) Intelligence is influenced by many factors, not just reading. This states that reading is not the only cause of intelligence. However, this does not weaken the claim that reading is *one* of the causes. It's a weakener at best, as it just adds context.
- (C) Reading improves memory, which is linked to intelligence. This provides a mechanism for how reading could increase intelligence, which strengthens the argument.
- (D) The study focused on young children only. This is a strong weakener. It points out a major flaw in the study's methodology: a biased or unrepresentative sample. A conclusion drawn from a study on only young children cannot be reliably generalized to the entire population. The effect might be unique to children during a specific developmental phase. This casts doubt on the broad claim that "reading books increases intelligence" in general.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Pointing out a flaw in the study's sample group is a powerful way to weaken the general conclusion drawn from it. This corresponds to option (D).