Critical Reasoning: Conclusion Strengthening Questions
With competitive cycling increasing in popularity, the appearance of cyclists on roads used by motor vehicles has become more commonplace. The Road Safety Association announced that in the last year, 4 deaths and 67 injuries were caused by collisions between cyclists and motor vehicles. None of these cases involved driving under the influence of inebriating substances, the most frequent cause of accidents. It is clear that roads should be organized in a way that will allow both motor vehicles and cyclists to use them simultaneously and safely.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the author's conclusion?
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]By bringing forward a negative aspect of organizing roads (something that the conclusion recommends) this answer choice weakens the conclusion. The conclusion supports the organization of roads and, therefore, stating that it is an extremely costly process does not strengthen this conclusion, which is what you are aiming to do.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice provides information that is irrelevant to the task at hand: strengthening the conclusion. The argument states that the collisions with cyclists were not caused by inebriated drivers and so this statement does not support or weaken the conclusion.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice does not weaken or strengthen the conclusion. Because the conclusion states a recommendation to renew roads in a way that will cater for cyclists and vehicles, suggesting the creation of parks does not affect the argument in any way.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]If anything, this answer choice weakens the conclusion by stating that helmets can prevent injury, implying that re-organizing roads is perhaps unnecessary.
Superb!
[[snippet]]This answer choice strengthens the conclusion by providing an actual example of how the theory presented in the conclusion has worked in helping prevent accidents.
