Question

An avid television viewer is statistically more likely to take sleeping pills at bedtime than a person who enjoys listening to classical music but does not watch television as a habit. Clearly, listening to classical music just before bedtime contributes to a more restful night's sleep, whereas watching television before bedtime has the opposite effect. Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the above argument?

• A. Reading a book before bedtime contributes to restful sleep more than listening to music does.
• B. People who enjoy classical music typically like to read just before bedtime.
• C. Sleeplessness is more common among people who watch late-night television than among people who do not.
• D. Engaging in a bedtime activity that is mentally stimulating often interferes with a person's ability to fall asleep.
• E. A silent environment is less conducive to restful sleep than an environment with calming ambient sounds.

Hint:

When evaluating weakening arguments, look for evidence that explains the cause of the problem presented in the conclusion.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the argument.
The argument suggests that television watching leads to less restful sleep compared to listening to classical music. The conclusion assumes that television is the key factor in poor sleep.

Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (A) Reading a book before bedtime contributes to restful sleep more than listening to music does: Incorrect. This option introduces reading but does not address the issue of television affecting sleep.
- (B) People who enjoy classical music typically like to read just before bedtime: Incorrect. This option does not weaken the argument, as it does not address the issue of television.
- (C) Sleeplessness is more common among people who watch late-night television than among people who do not: Incorrect. This does not directly weaken the argument because it does not explain why television viewing would specifically cause poor sleep.
- (D) Engaging in a bedtime activity that is mentally stimulating often interferes with a person's ability to fall asleep: Correct. If television is mentally stimulating and interferes with sleep, this could explain why it leads to the need for sleeping pills, thus weakening the argument.
- (E) A silent environment is less conducive to restful sleep than an environment with calming ambient sounds: Incorrect. This is unrelated to the issue of television and classical music affecting sleep quality.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (D) Engaging in a bedtime activity that is mentally stimulating often interferes with a person's ability to fall asleep.

Final Answer: \[ \boxed{(D) \, \text{Engaging in a bedtime activity that is mentally stimulating often interferes with a person's ability to fall asleep.}} \]