Logical Reasoning

PT117 · S4 · Q1 Jones fell unconscious on the job

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Jones fell unconscious on the job and it was suspected that he had swallowed a certain chemical, so he was rushed to the local hospital’s emergency room.

Conclusion

Jones did not swallow the chemical.

Evidence (since)

If Jones had swallowed the chemical, it would result in a deficiency of a mineral, leading to inflammation of the skin. Since Jones's skin was not inflamed when he was admitted to the emergency room, the physician concluded he had not swallowed the chemical.

Evaluate

Given that the chemical would lead to inflammation of the skin and that his skin wasn't inflamed, how could we argue that he did swallow the chemical?

Goal

Identify an answer choice that shows why inflammation might not yet be evident in Jones, even if he did swallow the chemical, thus weakening the conclusion.

1.

Which one of the following, if true, would undermine the physician's conclusion?

  1. Jones did not know that

    No Impact

    This does not affect the chain of logic concerning the presence or absence of symptoms and doesn't weaken the conclusion.

    0% picked this

  2. Jones had suffered inflammation of

    No Impact

    This discusses the past, but doesn't indicate current inflammation or challenge the current absence of symptoms due to the chemical in question.

    2% picked this

  3. Correct

    It takes 48 hours for

    Why this is right

    This suggests the symptoms may not have appeared yet, undermining the conclusion that Jones didn't swallow the chemical simply because inflammation wasn't present upon his arrival at the emergency room. It gives us a way to argue that he DID swallow the chemical. "Yes that chemical will lead to inflammation and he doesn't have inflammation, but give it some time ... the inflammation doesn't show up for at least 48 hrs, because it's triggered by this slow-forming mineral deficiency."

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

    92% picked this

  4. Jones often worked with the

    No Impact

    This doesn't address the presence or absence of symptoms at the time of examination.

    1% picked this

  5. Deficiency in minerals other than

    No Impact

    This is irrelevant to the specific chain of logic linking this chemical to symptoms. It doesn't address the immediate context of Jones's condition.

    5% picked this

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