Critical Reasoning: Conclusion Weakening Questions
Music stores often recommend cheap guitars to customers who are just starting to play. Like with any new activity, beginners are unsure about whether they will enjoy the experience of playing guitar enough to continue it consistently for a long period of time. For this reason, beginners consider investing in an expensive guitar unnecessary. Clearly, cheap guitars are more suitable for beginners' needs.
Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the argument's conclusion?
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion as the fact professional guitarists use expensive guitars does not indicate anything about the suitability of cheap guitars to beginners' needs.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]While this answer choice establishes a need of beginning guitarists, it does not link it with the quality or price of the guitar they are using. Therefore, it neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion because it describes an advantage of cheap guitars for music stores while the conclusion is about the suitability of cheap guitars for beginning guitarists.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice strengthens the conclusion by providing another reason why cheap guitars are suitable for beginners. However, you are required to weaken the conclusion.
Very well done!
[[snippet]]This answer choice attacks the assumption that there is no disadvantage to playing a cheap guitar that can be experienced by a beginner. By stating that a cheap guitar can deter beginners from continuing to learn it undermines the conclusion that they are suitable for them.
