Critical Reasoning

The newly renovated housing development in city X is cleaner, bigger, and less expensive than other local housing developments. The development, therefore, should attract thousands of people and become the most popular residential area in city X.
Which of the following, if true, would LEAST weaken the argument above?

The housing development is located near many local stores and highways.

A cleaner and less expensive housing development has recently been built in city X.

The housing development provides no convenient access to secondary schools.

Most of those planning to move to city X are reluctant to move into renovated buildings.

Although rents are lower in the renovated development than they are at other comparable housing projects, when utility bills are included, the cost of living is higher in the new development.



My ques:
What does "LEAST weaken" mean?
Should we look for the one which is supporting the argument or, the one which DOES weaken, but not very strongly?

In this case, 4 of the answer choices will weaken the argument. The correct answer choice will not weaken the argument. It doesn't necessarily have to strengthen it either though. You don't have to worry about ranking the answer choices or look for the degree of how much it weakens the argument. 4 of the answers will clearly weaken the argument and 1 won't.

In this case, we're looking for statements that weaken the argument that the new housing development will become the most popular residential area in city X.

A - this statement does not weaken the argument. Being located near stores and highways might even strenghten it.
B - Another cleaner and less expensive housing development weakens this argument - this new development may be the most popular area now.
C - If the development has little access to schools, this would be a problem and will weaken the argument.
D - If people are reluctant to move to renovated buildings, it would weaken this argument.
E - If the total cost is higher than in other areas, it would also weaken the argument.

A is the only statement that does not weaken the argument and is the correct answer.

sunilrawat wrote: My ques:
What does "LEAST weaken" mean?
Should we look for the one which is supporting the argument or, the one which DOES weaken, but not very strongly?

it may strengthen or be neutral to the conclusion. but it should not weaken the conclusion!


In the Question, A is the answer!

IMO A