Health officials claim that because

Answer choices

1. A

   Out of Scope: designed2% picked this

   the eating and drinking habits of people on television programs are designed to mirror the eating and drinking

   This argument is only about what effect TV eating has on real world eating. This answer choice is about what causes TV eating to be the way it is. The argument has nothing to do with the backstory of the eating/drinking habits of TV characters, only its ramifications.

   2%
2. B

   Correct94% picked this

   seeing some foods and beverages being consumed on, or hearing them mentioned on, television programs increases the likelihood that viewers will consume

   Why this is right

   In order for the author to say that "if people on TV are eating junk food, then TV had a bad influence on the dietary habits of TV viewers", she has to assume that TV viewers are somehow changed by watching characters on TV eat junk food. She specifically has to assume that viewers become more likely to copy the eating/drinking habits of the TV characters. If we negate this answer, it's saying that "seeing people on TV eating/drinking X does not increase the likelihood that a viewer will eat/drink X". That would badly weaken the argument, so that means this is a correct answer.

   Skill tested: Necessary Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   94%
3. C

   Out of Scope: food / beverage industry0% picked this

   the food and beverage industry finances television programs so that the foods and beverages that have recently appeared on the market can

   This argument is only about what effect TV eating has on real world eating. This answer choice is about what causes TV eating to be the way it is. Do characters on TV eat junk food because they're mirroring how everyday people eat (choice A), or do they eat junk food because the food / beverage industry is paying for timely product placement (choice C). We only care about the ramifications of TV characters' eating junk food, not the causal backstory behind why they do.

   0%
4. D

   Too Strong: only / same1% picked this

   television viewers are only interested in the people on television programs who have the same eating and drinking

   The author didn't commit herself to the absurdly extreme claim that as a TV viewer, I will only watch shows with people who eat and drink the same as I do.

   1%
5. E

   Out of Scope: health officials' predictions2% picked this

   the eating and drinking habits of people on television programs provide health officials with accurate predictions about the food and beverages that

   The author is only claiming that the eating/drinking habits shown on TV will somewhat corrupt the dietary habits of viewers. She hasn't claimed that viewers will exactly copy the same eating/drinking they see, just that their dietary habits will be worsened somewhat. This answer poses a very specific claim that a health official can watch TV, and then accurately predict the future of which food and beverages will become popular. TV could have a bad influence on our dietary habits even if it doesn't provide health officials with accurate predictions.

   2%