It is widely believed that

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TopicsMethod

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Stimulus

It is widely believed that eating chocolate can cause acne. Indeed, many people who are susceptible to acne report that, in their own experience, eating large amounts of chocolate is invariably followed by an outbreak of that skin condition. However, it is likely that common wisdom has mistaken an effect for a are fond of chocolate tend to eat more chocolate when they are under stress.

What this question is testing

Method

Your task

Describe how the argument proceeds — the technique it uses to reach its conclusion.

Common trap

Answers that describe a method the argument doesn't actually use.

Winning move

Track the role each statement plays, then match that to the choice describing the same moves.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question

The argument employs which one of the following

Answer choices

Bad Evidence Match8% picked this
It cites counterevidence that calls into question the accuracy of the evidence advanced in support of
The evidence for the author's rebuttal (the new studies) doesn't attack the opposing evidence (the correlation between chocolate eating and breakouts). It's actually consistent with that opposing evidence because the studies are trying to explain that same correlation.
8%
Correct69% picked this
It provides additional evidence that points to an alternative interpretation of the evidence offered in support of
Why this is right
We have additional evidence (new studies) that points out an alternative interpretation (chocolate is an effect, not a cause) of the evidence offered in support of the position being challenged (chocolate eating and acne are correlated).
Skill tested: Method · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
69%
Bad Evidence Match7% picked this
It invokes the superior authority of science over common opinion in order to dismiss out of hand the relevance of
This one is tempting because the author does invoke new scientific studies as evidence and we do see common view language in the opposing conclusion. That said, the evidence doesn't actually say that science is superior to common views, and the conclusion doesn't dismiss out of hand the relevance of the opposing evidence.
7%
Bad Evidence Match1% picked this
It demonstrates that the position being challenged is inconsistent with certain
The evidence doesn't bring up any well-established facts: it brings up some new studies, which is kind of the opposite of well-established. The conclusion doesn't demonstrate that the opposing conclusion is inconsistent with anything. It just raises an alternative conclusion one might draw.
1%
Bad Evidence Match14% picked this
It provides counterexamples to show that, contrary to the assumption on which the commonly held position rests, causes do
The evidence doesn't bring up a counterexample or attack an assumption. And the conclusion is definitely not that causes don't always precede their effects. That's counter to common sense! In order for something to be a cause, it has to come before the effect.
14%

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