Question

‘China has a higher literacy rate than India. This is due to the greater efficiency of the Communist system. Efficiency is sorely lacking in India’s democratic system. Therefore, democracy is the biggest obstacle to India’s achieving 100% literacy.’ Which of the following, if true, would directly undermine the above argument?

• A. Inefficiency is equally a problem in democracies and Communist countries.
• B. Communist systems do not respect human rights.
• C. Freedom is more important than literacy.
• D. China is slowly making the transition to democracy.

Hint:

To weaken a causal argument, find a counterexample or prove the assumed cause is not unique or valid.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Analyze the argument The passage links China’s higher literacy rate to the efficiency of the Communist system, and then blames India’s democracy for inefficiency and, hence, poor literacy. Step 2: Understand what weakens the claim To undermine this argument, we need to challenge the causal connection between: \[ \text{Democracy} \Rightarrow \text{Inefficiency} \Rightarrow \text{Lower literacy} \] Option Analysis:

(a) If inefficiency is a problem in both systems, then democracy is not uniquely responsible — weakens the argument. Correct.
(b) This is about human rights — not literacy or efficiency — irrelevant.
(c) “Freedom over literacy” is a value judgment — doesn’t undermine the causal claim.
(d) China's shift to democracy is a new factor, not about current efficiency/literacy linkage.

% Final Answer \[ \boxed{\text{Inefficiency is equally a problem in democracies and Communist countries.}} \]