Critical Reasoning

A conservation group in the United States is trying to change the long-standing image of bats as frightening creatures. The group contends that bats are feared and persecuted solely because they are shy animals that are active only at night.

Which of the following, if true, would cast the most serious doubt on the accuracy of the group's contention?

(A) Bats are steadily losing natural roosting places such as caves and hollow trees and are thus turning to
more developed areas for roosting.

(B) Bats are the chief consumers of nocturnal insects and thus can help make their hunting territory more
pleasant for humans.

(C) Bats are regarded as frightening creatures not only in the United States but also in Europe, Africa, and
South America.

(D) Raccoons and owls are shy and active only at night, yet they are not generally feared and persecuted.

(E) People know more about the behavior of other greatly feared animal species, such as lions, alligators, and
snakes, than they do about the behavior of bats

OA D

komal wrote:A conservation group in the United States is trying to change the long-standing image of bats as frightening creatures. The group contends that bats are feared and persecuted solely because they are shy animals that are active only at night.

Which of the following, if true, would cast the most serious doubt on the accuracy of the group's contention?

(A) Bats are steadily losing natural roosting places such as caves and hollow trees and are thus turning to
more developed areas for roosting.

(B) Bats are the chief consumers of nocturnal insects and thus can help make their hunting territory more
pleasant for humans.

(C) Bats are regarded as frightening creatures not only in the United States but also in Europe, Africa, and
South America.

(D) Raccoons and owls are shy and active only at night, yet they are not generally feared and persecuted.

(E) People know more about the behavior of other greatly feared animal species, such as lions, alligators, and
snakes, than they do about the behavior of bats

Conclusion: bats are feared only because they are shy and active only in the night

Assumption : People do not know a great deal about animals shy and active only in the night

A - Not attacking the assumption
B - The group's contention is not attacked
C - Irrelevant
D - Attacks the assumption - Correct
E - Doesnt attack the assumption, would have been a good candidate had the question been about strengthening the argument

IMO (D).

Here D clearly states the doubt by drawing point of becoming active in night for othet animals and thus making a comparision. Weakening by the way that only become active at night is not the character for not frieghtening creature.

after reading the cause and affect reasoning chapter in Powerscore Bible i came to the conclusion that if there is an alternate cause for the effect then it should weaken the argument.
here
Bats are shy animal(cause)->bats are persecuted(effect)

choice A gives an alternate cause that bats come to developed areas as a result they are persecuted.I conder D as an Answer but when i approached the problem after reading Powerscore Bible i choose A.What's the mistake in my approach

Hi Mrinal2100,

The option A or question nowhere suggests that the birds/bats are persecuted as a result of roosting close to human habitats. Hence option A does not provide alternate cause.

ya mandarchougule you are right.but my question was cant it be an alternate reason why the bats are getting killed.In that way it would weaken the conclusion.alternate cause for the effect...

Your approach says the bats are killed and therefore they come to developed areas.. The contention is something else.. the contention is based on the important assumption that anything that is shy and active at nights causes fear in people's minds.

Now Option D says- well, racoons and owls exhibit the same characteristic !! why aint they feared then !! Hence D is CORRECT.

Ok.. You want to know why A is wrong. Try the Least negation technique. Therefore option A becomes-

Bats are not necessarily steadily losing natural roosting places such as caves and hollow trees and are thus not necessarily turning to more developed areas for roosting. Is this helping the group in their claim ? The bats may well not be losing their natural homes, but does the question answer why people fear bats ??