Critical Reasoning: Conclusion Strengthening Questions
All-included tour package brochure: Tourists joining us on our "all-included" package to the Caribbean are making a wise choice. People who take the so-called "inexpensive" cruises offered by some companies are constantly encouraged to buy "extras" in the form of alcoholic beverages, special day-trips and even the use of the midnight buffet. These unsuspecting tourists often pay an above-average price for such "inexpensive" cruises.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the position presented in the all-included tour package brochure?
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the brochure's position. It promotes a third option - independently organizing a cruise. Therefore it does not strengthen the conclusion stated in the brochure - that it is better to get an "all-included" cruise than one in which everything is paid for individually.
Very well done!
[[snippet]]This answer choice provides evidence that strengthens the brochure's position by confirming its assumption through an example. Even though the items mentioned are slightly different from those in the argument, the accounting calculation shows that tourists pay more for the "inexpensive" tours compared to the "all-included" option as they have to pay more for each service individually.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice casts doubt on the brochure's conclusion. Though this statement takes into consideration that the "inexpensive" option costs more, it shows that customer satisfaction is greater, for some reason. This weakens the conclusion that tourists should prefer choosing an "all-included" cruise.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice weakens the brochure's conclusion. If the difference in price between the two options is insignificant, the conclusion that tourists should prefer the "all-included" cruises based on price is weakened.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion. The comparison between tourists that travel in groups and those that travel alone is irrelevant, since the argument deals with a different comparison completely: the "inexpensive" tours versus the "all-included" packages.