Logical Reasoning

PT156 · S4 · Q4 Overcrowding inclines human beings toward

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Overcrowding inclines human beings toward aggressive, competitive behavior.

Conclusion (this shows that)

As the world population grows, aggressive behaviors will increase, including more war and crime.

Intermediate Conclusion

Overcrowding inclines humans toward aggressive behavior.

Evidence

People are usually considerate, but become jerks during rush-hour traffic or at crowded sporting events.

Evaluate

There is a new term in the conclusion (world population growth) and a repeated term (aggression, which is discussed in the evidence).

What is the author assuming happens as the world population grows?

She must think there will be more overcrowding. After all, more people on the same globe does sound like higher density. But will it necessarily create overcrowding?

If we were trying to weaken this argument, we might say

We might also argue that there will be technological innovations that will somehow alleviate aggression, or make things like war / crime less likely.

So if we're strengthening the argument, we would counter those objections. We would want to believe that more population DOES mean overcrowding, and that new technologies will NOT alleviate these problems.

Goal

Eliminate the four answers that help tell the story that more people on Earth will lead to more overcrowding, which will lead to more aggression / war / crime.

4.

Each of the following, if true, strengthens the argument except:

  1. The frequency and severity of

    Strengthens

    This choice suggests that overcrowding is proportional to world population growth, supporting the assumption that a growing population leads to more overcrowding.

    3% picked this

  2. The frequency and severity of

    Strengthens

    This choice presents a correlation between a growing population and increased instances of war and crime, thereby making the conclusion that such aggressive behavior will result from overcrowding more plausible. Correlations don't prove there's a causal connection between two things, but they are evidence that there could be a causal connection between two things.

    1% picked this

  3. Correct

    Some forms of aggressive, competitive

    Why this is right

    This doesn't strengthen the story that "more people >> more overcrowding >> more aggression/war/crime", since it's talking about aggressive behavior happening even when it's not overcrowded.

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

    95% picked this

  4. With respect to its effect

    Strengthens

    The author was using rush-hour traffic as an example of overcrowding leading to aggression. This choice affirms the author's assumption that rush-hour is indeed an example of overcrowding.

    1% picked this

  5. Most mammals inhabiting a given

    Strengthens

    This choice states that as population density increases (a synonym for population growth / overcrowding), most mammals (including humans) display more aggressive behavior. By supporting the notion that overcrowding leads to aggression in mammals generally, it indirectly strengthens the claim about human behavior.

    1% picked this

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