Logical Reasoning

PT127 · S3 · Q12 Advice columnist: Several scientific

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Advice columnist: Several scientific studies have shown that, when participating in competitive sports, those people who have recently been experiencing major stress in their lives are several times more likely to suffer serious injuries than are other participants in competitive sports.

Evidence

Several scientific studies have CS → RI shown that, when participating in competitive sports, those people who have recently been experiencing major stress in their lives are several times more likely to suffer injuries [risks injury] than are other participants in competitive sports.

Risking serious injury is RI → ~W unwise.

Conclusion

No sports activity should be S → ~W used [is wise to use] as a method for coping with stress.

Evaluate

The argument assumes that no (CS → ~W) → (S → ~W) sports activity should be used [is wise to use] as a method for coping with stress if competitive sports should not be used [is not wise to use] as a method for coping with stress.

12.

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the reasoning in the advice columnist's argument?

  1. Correct

    If people recently under stress

    Why this is right

    This bridges the gap (CS → ~W) → (S → ~W) between competitive sports being unwise to use as a method for coping with stress and the broader category of sports being unwise to use as a method for coping with stress.

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

    78% picked this

  2. A method for coping with

    Wrong Trigger

    This suggests that if a method ~SS → ~W for coping with stress has not been subjected to scientific study, it should not be used [unwise to use]. However, participating in competitive sports has been subjected to scientific study.

    1% picked this

  3. People who have not been

    Out of Scope

    The argument is about those who are coping with stress.

    7% picked this

  4. When people have been under

    Contradiction

    This contradicts the inference CS → W of the argument’s premises.

    1% picked this

  5. People with a history of

    Out of Scope

    The argument is not about people with a history of sports injuries, but rather about people who have recently been experiencing major stress.

    12% picked this

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