Question

In most truck drivers, taking caffeine pills regularly usually leads to a higher average efficiency in terms of miles travelled each day. Recent data has shown that the locations of the greatest number of car accidents involving multiple trucks occurred near stores selling large quantities of the types of caffeine pills most frequently purchased by truck drivers. Thus, caffeine pill intake among truck drivers leads to an increased number of car accidents.
Which of the following most accurately describes the major flaw in the author's reasoning?

• A. The author assumes that truck drivers speed because of the caffeine pills.
• B. The author does not allow for other reasons for the proximity of the caffeine suppliers to the location of the car accidents.
• C. The argument assumes that higher average efficiency means truck drivers are less likely to be involved in accidents.
• D. The author assumes that caffeine pills are the only cause of truck drivers' speed because of the caffeine pills.
• E. The argument fails to take into account the actions of any non-trucks potentially involved in these accidents.

Hint:

When evaluating causal reasoning, always consider alternative explanations and additional contributing factors.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the flaw in the reasoning.
The author assumes that caffeine pills are directly linked to truck accidents without considering other possible factors, such as the proximity of caffeine suppliers to accident-prone areas. The reasoning neglects other potential explanations for the correlation.

Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (A) While the author does suggest a relationship between caffeine pill intake and truck driver accidents, it does not explicitly assume that the pills cause speeding.
- (B) This is the correct flaw, as the author overlooks other factors that could explain the proximity of caffeine suppliers to car accidents.
- (C) The argument doesn't make this assumption about efficiency; it focuses on the correlation between caffeine intake and accidents.
- (D) The author does not assume that caffeine pills are the only cause, but does assume they are a factor in speeding.
- (E) Non-truck vehicles might be involved, but the primary flaw is in overlooking other factors, not just the actions of non-trucks.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (B), as the flaw lies in the failure to consider other factors that might explain the proximity of caffeine suppliers to the accidents.