Question 66
HardOriginal questionA teacher at Oakridge School notes that students who take the optional music class score higher in Mathematics than those who do not, and concludes that learning music improves Mathematics scores.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion?
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The conclusion reads a cause into a difference between two groups.
If only high scorers may join the music class, the music students were already better at Mathematics before they learnt music. The difference comes from who was let in, not from music. That weakens the conclusion.
Some non-music students scoring well does not change the fact that the music group scores higher on average. How often the class meets and the dance class are irrelevant.
Worth noting
"Some others also do well" feels like a weakener but does not touch the comparison. The real weakener shows the groups were different to begin with.
- Concept
- Weakening by showing the groups differed from the start
- Typical timeTypical
- 105 s
- Your timeYours
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Ten questions from Statements, Conclusions and Assumptions, at your own pace.