Logical Reasoning

PT131 · S1 · Q12 The number of different synthetic

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The number of different synthetic chemical compounds that are known to be carcinogenic but are nonetheless used as pesticides, preservatives, or food additives is tiny compared to the number of nonsynthetic carcinogenic compounds widely found in plants and animals.

Evidence

The number of different synthetic chemical compounds that are known to be carcinogenic but are nonetheless used as pesticides, preservatives, or food additives is tiny compared to the number of nonsynthetic carcinogenic compounds widely found in plants and animals.

Conclusion

It is therefore absurd to suppose that the rise in the cancer rate in recent decades is due to synthetic carcinogens.

Evaluate

The number of synthetic and nonsynthetic carcinogenic compounds is only part of the equation when determining the cause of the rise in the rate of cancer in recent decades. Other factors are also relevant, such as the level of exposure to each carcinogen and how carcinogenic each compound is.

12.

The reasoning above is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it overlooks the possibility that

  1. the rise in the cancer

    Contradiction

    This point is not overlooked, but rather asserted to be a possibility.

    4% picked this

  2. the rise in the cancer

    Contradiction

    This point is not overlooked, but rather asserted to be a possibility.

    5% picked this

  3. some synthetic chemical compounds that

    Out of Scope

    Forms of toxicity other than being carcinogenic are not relevant to the argument.

    8% picked this

  4. Correct

    people undergo significantly less exposure

    Why this is right

    This points to another difference between synthetic and nonsynthetic carcinogenic compounds that would be relevant when determining the cause of the rise in the rate of cancer.

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

    78% picked this

  5. people can vary greatly in

    Out of Scope

    The concern of this argument is the recent rise in the general rate of cancer and so variation in individual susceptibility to cancers cause by nonsynthetic carcinogens is not relevant.

    4% picked this

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