Critical Reasoning: Conclusion Strengthening Questions
Many energy bars contain vitamin supplements. Some of these bars provide 100% of the recommended daily vitamin consumption amounts. Nevertheless, a well-balanced meal, including a variety of food types, is a better source of vitamins than eating energy bars alone.
Which of the following, if true, would most strongly support the position above?
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice neither strengthens nor weakens the conclusion. The reason for which energy bars replace natural foods does not help us determine whether natural foods are healthier than energy bars.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice neither strengthens nor weakens the conclusion. The conclusion favors a meal over an energy bar, so the correct answer should highlight an advantage of a meal over an energy bar, or a disadvantage of an energy bar. However, this answer choice compares two types of energy bars.
Well done!
[[snippet]]This answer choice confirms the argument's assumption. Although the premises provide positive data about energy bars, the author concludes that actual meals are better. Therefore, by presenting an advantage that natural foods have over energy bars, this answer choice strengthens the author's position.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice actually weakens the conclusion as it states an advantage of energy bars that contain vitamin supplements over a meal. However, you were asked to strengthen the author's conclusion, which favors the natural meals.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion - the variety of energy bar products is irrelevant to our task. The conclusion favors a meal over an energy bar, so the correct answer should highlight an advantage of a meal over an energy bar, or a disadvantage of an energy bar.
