Logical Reasoning

PT115 · S4 · Q1 A study comparing infant care

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A study comparing infant care revealed that the amount of stimulation babies receive affects their sleep.

Conclusion

Parents would be wise to reduce the amount of stimulation their babies receive.

Evidence

A study shows that babies with a less stimulating daytime routine slept an average of two hours more per day than those with a more stimulating routine. Since sleep plays a very important role in a child's development, it is suggested that reducing stimulation would be beneficial.

Evaluate

This is a "Weaken" question where we want to find an answer choice that challenges the conclusion that reducing stimulation is wise. We should look for reasoning or evidence that highlights the potential benefits of maintaining or even increasing stimulation, which might outweigh the benefits of additional sleep.

Goal

Identify an answer choice that illuminates a reason why stimulation might still be important, despite its impact on sleep, thus challenging the conclusion that reducing stimulation is beneficial.

Conclusion

Choice E effectively weakens the argument by highlighting that stimulation contributes to intellectual development. It introduces important developmental benefits that could balance or outweigh the advantage of increased sleep, directly challenging the advice to reduce stimulation. The other options either do not directly impact the argument or indirectly support it.

1.

Which one of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

  1. Babies’ muscular coordination is unaffected

    No Impact

    This suggests that muscular coordination in babies is unaffected by stimulation, which doesn’t address the balance between sleep and other developmental factors, nor does it challenge the conclusion on reducing stimulation.

    3% picked this

  2. Babies with less stimulating routines

    No Impact

    This states that babies with less stimulating routines get more sleep during the day, which supports the study's finding and conclusion rather than challenging it.

    11% picked this

  3. Studies showed no correlation between

    No Impact

    This notes the lack of correlation between stimulation and sleep for older children, but the argument specifically concerns infants, making this observation irrelevant to the conclusion.

    5% picked this

  4. The babies who had a

    No Impact

    This claims that babies with a less stimulating routine gained weight at an average rate. It neither supports nor challenges the crucial aspect of the argument concerning developmental aspects influenced by sleep versus stimulation.

    2% picked this

  5. Correct

    The stimulation that babies receive

    Why this is right

    This states that stimulation aids intellectual development in babies, presenting a significant benefit of stimulation that may outweigh the sleep considerations proposed. It challenges the notion that reducing stimulation is wise by introducing a valuable aspect of stimulation beyond sleep.

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

    79% picked this

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