Logical Reasoning

PT136 · S4 · Q15 Carpal tunnel syndrome

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Carpal tunnel syndrome, a nerve disorder that affects the hands and wrists, is often caused by repetitive motions such as typing on a keyboard.

Apparent Paradox

Carpal tunnel syndrome, a nerve disorder that affects the hands and wrists, is often caused by repetitive motions such as typing on a keyboard.

A recent study of office workers found that, among those who do similar amounts of typing, workers reporting the least control over their own work had almost three times the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome as did those who reported the most control.

Evaluate

Why would workers with similar amounts of typing experience different likelihoods of developing carpal tunnel syndrome? That carpal tunnel syndrome is often caused by repetitive motions such as typing does not mean that such tasks are the only cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s possible that workers with the least control over their own work are more likely to have one of these other factors that contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome.

15.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the study's findings?

  1. Office workers who have the

    Out of Scope

    The study looked at office workers with similar amounts of writing.

    29% picked this

  2. Correct

    Feeling a lack of control

    Why this is right

    This connects workers with the least control over their own work with another contributing factor of carpal tunnel syndrome.

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

    65% picked this

  3. The keyboards on which office

    Applies to Both

    This applies to both those who have control over their work and those who do not, so it cannot explain the different likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

    1% picked this

  4. Among office workers who rarely

    Too Weak

    This might extend the relationship beyond those office workers who frequently use keyboards, but it does not provide any indication for why those with the least control experience higher rates of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

    2% picked this

  5. Office workers who have the

    Deepens the Paradox

    This would increase the likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome for those who have control, and yet these people were less likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome.

    4% picked this

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