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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Tourists who choose to hire a yacht, and head for the Caribbean independent of any company, ultimately pay less than those who go on inexpensive cruises organised by tour providers.

An accounting calculation made for an "inexpensive" cruising company shows that the average payment per passenger is 5% higher at the end of the cruise when charged individually for a five o'clock buffet and a scuba diving course.

A marketing investigation shows that while more costly, tourists electing the "inexpensive" option tend to return to the same company for their next cruise in higher percentages than those who choose the "all-included" package.

A market assessment made for one of the large cruising companies shows that the tourist who pays a lower nominal fee, yet pays for many "extras", pays insignificantly more than the tourist who pays a higher rate for an "all-included" package.

A survey of customers who took cruises lasting more than two weeks shows that tourists that traveled with friends from home enjoyed themselves more than those that left alone or just as a couple.