Critical Reasoning: Conclusion Weakening Questions
Every year, injuries caused by scissors are reported by a number of elementary schools. Almost all of these injuries are accidental. Therefore, the use of scissors should not be allowed by elementary school pupils.
Which of the following, if true, calls the argument's conclusion into question?
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice strengthens the conclusion, but you are asked to weaken it. Claiming that many types of scissors can cause injury just gives us another reason to believe that scissors should not be allowed in the schools.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice strengthens the conclusion, but you are asked to weaken it. Claiming that using scissors is not that important to the pupils means that it won't really be missed. This just gives us another reason to believe that scissors can be disallowed in schools.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the author's conclusion as it says nothing in favor or against disallowing scissors in elementary school.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the author's conclusion. The fact that the annual report is reviewed by an educational body is irrelevant to whether or not scissors should be allowed in elementary schools.
Well done!
[[snippet]]This answer choice weakens the conclusion. By giving us a positive point about why children should learn to use scissors, this answer choice undermines the conclusion that scissors should not be allowed in elementary schools.
