A television commercial argued as

Answer choices

1. A

   Too Strong: true in all cases9% picked this

   takes for granted that it is true in all cases that products with higher concentrations of active ingredients are

   The author is definitely assuming that it is true in this case that a product with higher concentrations of active ingredients will provide faster relief than competing products. But the author doesn't have to assume that higher concentrations are more effective in 100% of cases. "More effective" ? "provides faster relief"

   9%
2. B

   Wrong Flaw1% picked this

   attempts to establish its conclusion on the basis of evidence that is in principle

   This is an exotic phrasing of the famous Circular reasoning flaw. It would apply to an argument such as this: Chocolate is the best flavor of ice cream. After all, there is no flavor better than chocolate. It could also refer to other types of evidence (subjective accounts / dead people's opinions / things that are happening light years away from our solar system) that would seem hard to disprove. But the evidence here is "higher concentrations of active ingredients" which is extremely measurable / probable.

   1%
3. C

   Wrong Flaw0% picked this

   dismisses its competitor's claims because of their source rather than

   This refers to the famous Ad Hominem flaw, when an author dismisses someone's point of view for illicit reasons. But there is no claims being made by the competitor, so there is no point of view available for the author to commit this flaw.

   0%
4. D

   Wrong Flaw3% picked this

   attempts to manipulate the emotions of potential customers of the advertised product rather than presenting logically sound reasons

   This refers to the famous Inappropriate Appeal (to Emotion / to Dubious Expert). There's nothing in the evidence that sounds emotionally manipulative. The advertisement is making a perfectly logically sounding argument, with one big assumption that "higher concentrations of active ingredients provide faster relief".

   3%
5. E

   Correct87% picked this

   takes for granted that the product with the higher concentration of active ingredients provides faster

   Why this is right

   This matches the missing link we were looking for. The one thing we know about Product X is that it has higher concentrations of active ingredients. The argument is trying to conclude that Product X is superior, and it introduces a principle as its final premise: products that provide faster relief are superior. So the argument must be assuming that this advertised product provides faster relief.

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

   87%