is samuel a bad fisherman?

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is samuel a bad fisherman?

by chaya009 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:14 pm
Samuel is obviously a bad fisherman. During the past season, in which he and the five members of his team spent four months on a boat together off Dutch Harbor, AK, he caught fewer fish than any of his teammates.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?

A) Two seasons ago, Samuel fished on another boat off Dutch Harbor and caught more fish than any other member of that boat
B) Before becoming a fisherman, Samuel piloted a fishing boat whose members regularly caught record numbers of fish.
C) While fishing this past season, Samuel fell sick for a week and did not catch any fish during this time.
D) Unlike the other fishermen on his boat, at the order of the captain, Samuel fished this past season with experimental bait.
E) Amongst the fishing community in Dutch Harbor, Samuel has a reputation for being an especially bad fisherman

OA later

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by thephoenix » Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:22 pm
chaya009 wrote:Samuel is obviously a bad fisherman. During the past season, in which he and the five members of his team spent four months on a boat together off Dutch Harbor, AK, he caught fewer fish than any of his teammates.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?

A) Two seasons ago, Samuel fished on another boat off Dutch Harbor and caught more fish than any other member of that boat
B) Before becoming a fisherman, Samuel piloted a fishing boat whose members regularly caught record numbers of fish.
C) While fishing this past season, Samuel fell sick for a week and did not catch any fish during this time.
D) Unlike the other fishermen on his boat, at the order of the captain, Samuel fished this past season with experimental bait.
E) Amongst the fishing community in Dutch Harbor, Samuel has a reputation for being an especially bad fisherman

OA later
IMO D
conclusion : Samuel is obviously a bad fisherman

reason:he caught fewer fish than any of his teammates,During the past season

to weaken this we need to give another valid reason for his poor performance

D says he was given experimental bait ( for which no bdy knows wat will be the outcome) ; hence all other had an upper hand over samuel , so concluding samuel is bad fisherman is unfair ,hence it weakens the argument

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by sars72 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:42 pm
A) Two seasons ago, Samuel fished on another boat off Dutch Harbor and caught more fish than any other member of that boat
another boat and is compared to other members (who could be bad or good). doesn't tell us anything. Eliminated!
B) Before becoming a fisherman, Samuel piloted a fishing boat whose members regularly caught record numbers of fish.
piloted a fishing boat. Out of scope. Eliminated!
C) While fishing this past season, Samuel fell sick for a week and did not catch any fish during this time.
hmm... he was sick and didn't catch any fish for a week. The conclusin that "he is a bad fisherman" is based on the fact that the caught fewer fish. So, this does weaken the argument.
D) Unlike the other fishermen on his boat, at the order of the captain, Samuel fished this past season with experimental bait.
Expirimental bait could have positive or negative results. So, while this does add some doubt, it doesn't have as strong a case as choice C.
E) Amongst the fishing community in Dutch Harbor, Samuel has a reputation for being an especially bad fisherman
amongst ppl in dutch harbour... reputation. All irrelevant. Eliminated!

So, IMO, answer is
C

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by chaya009 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:44 pm
The OA is D.