Critical Reasoning

Hey guys,

comments appreciated OA very soon

The purpose of the proposed law requiring a doctor's prescription for obtaining hypodermic needles is to lower the incidence of drug-related deaths, both accidental and intentional, involving hypodermic needles. But even knitting needles can be lethal if they fall into the wrong hands; yet everyone would agree that imposing legal restrictions on obtaining knitting needles would be preposterous. Hence the proposed law involving hypodermic makes no sense and should not be enacted.

Which of the following, it true, would provide most support for the argument above?

(A) Knitting needles have been known to cause injury and death.
(B) The benefits of hypodermic needles outweigh those of knitting needles.
(C) The proposed law would not deter the sort of activity known to result in drug-related deaths.
(D) The proposed law could not be effectively enforced.
(E) Knitting needles are not readily available to anybody who wants to obtain them.

(A) Knitting needles have been known to cause injury and death.

hmm... maybe the word "lethal" covers this.... ok, so i'll keep this choice around

(B) The benefits of hypodermic needles outweigh those of knitting needles.

argument says that there should be no need for prescription to obtain the hypodermic needles coz even knitting needles can be dangerous. It doesn't matter if it's more beneficial or even if it's elixir. The argument is discussing the need for a prescription based on the "if it falls into the wrong hands" funda. This choice is out of scope

(C) The proposed law would not deter the sort of activity known to result in drug-related deaths.

the law is the law. if it doesn't deter people, then those found guilty will be punished by law. we can't say "lets not pass a law against murder, because even if we do, it won't deter people from murdering". In any case, this is out of scope.

(D) The proposed law could not be effectively enforced.

doesn't matter. out of scope.

(E) Knitting needles are not readily available to anybody who wants to obtain them.

again, out of scope

so that leaves us with answer choice A

I chose C because the argument says.."The purpose of the proposed law requiring a doctor's prescription for obtaining hypodermic needles is to lower the incidence of drug-related deaths"

C says...the law would not be helpful in lowering the incidence of deaths and hence does not achieve its purpose..hence it strengthens the conclusion.

OA please.

IMO C

'A' just restates the fact in the argument.

plz provide OA

sars72 wrote:(C) The proposed law would not deter the sort of activity known to result in drug-related deaths.

the law is the law. if it doesn't deter people, then those found guilty will be punished by law. we can't say "lets not pass a law against murder, because even if we do, it won't deter people from murdering". In any case, this is out of scope.

so that leaves us with answer choice A

@Sars...

the argument says "The purpose of the proposed law----- is to lower the incidence of drug-related deaths".

In Option C, it says the proposed law wont deter the activities that would result in drug- related diseases.



Here as per the argument, the role of law is just to "reduce/lower/deter/ lessen" the activities that lead to Drug related deaths & not as per your thought to " abolish" the activities leading to drug related deaths.



So In my Opinion C strengthens the argument stating that the proposed law would not deter the sort of activity known to result in drug-related death"

Guys the OA is A

Lance123 wrote:Guys the OA is A

Can u plz post the OE..if u have one?

@Fibbonnaci & komal..whats ur take on this??

Sure, Here is the Explaination:

The correct response is (A). The argument is essentially that the proposed law makes no sense because knitting needles are dangerous as well. The argument relies explicitly on an analogy between hypodermic and knitting needles. Thus, the two must be similar in all respects relevant to the argument. Otherwise, the argument is unconvincing. (A) affirms that knitting needles are in fact dangerous, thereby affirming the analogy between the two types of needles.

(B), (C) and (D) each in its own way supports the bare assertion that the proposed law might not be effective. However, none of these answer choices affirms the argument's essential reasoning.

(E) actually weakens the argument, by providing a reason why hypodermic needles and knitting needles are not relevantly similar.

The purpose of the proposed law requiring a doctor's prescription for obtaining hypodermic needles is to lower the incidence of drug-related deaths, both accidental and intentional, involving hypodermic needles. But even knitting needles can be lethal if they fall into the wrong hands; yet everyone would agree that imposing legal restrictions on obtaining knitting needles would be preposterous. Hence the proposed law involving hypodermic makes no sense and should not be enacted.

Which of the following, it true, would provide most support for the argument above?

Analogy is show between hypodermic needles and knitting needles. Thus it can be concluded that hypodermic needles and knitting needles should have same characteristics in reference to the context above.

Premise : Hypodermic needles causes accidental as well as intentional deaths
Premise : Proposed law will lower the incidence of deaths involving hypodermic needles
Premise : Even knitting needles can cause death (lethal)

Conclusion : Proposed law involving hypodermic needles does not make sense.


(A) Knitting needles have been known to cause injury and death.
Correct : Support the argument by asserting the co-relation between knitting n hypodermic needles.

(B) The benefits of hypodermic needles outweigh those of knitting needles.
Incorrect : Only provides backing to the conclusion without attacking the real reason of the argument.

(C) The proposed law would not deter the sort of activity known to result in drug-related deaths.
Incorrect : Irrelevant. How does it matter the proposed law would put off drug related deaths

(D) The proposed law could not be effectively enforced.
Incorrect : Out of Scope. Issue is not about effective enforcement of law.

(E) Knitting needles are not readily available to anybody who wants to obtain them.
Incorrect : Out of Scope. Availability of needles is not an issue here

komal wrote:The purpose of the proposed law requiring a doctor's prescription for obtaining hypodermic needles is to lower the incidence of drug-related deaths, both accidental and intentional, involving hypodermic needles. But even knitting needles can be lethal if they fall into the wrong hands; yet everyone would agree that imposing legal restrictions on obtaining knitting needles would be preposterous. Hence the proposed law involving hypodermic makes no sense and should not be enacted.

Which of the following, it true, would provide most support for the argument above?

Analogy is show between hypodermic needles and knitting needles. Thus it can be concluded that hypodermic needles and knitting needles should have same characteristics in reference to the context above.

Premise : Hypodermic needles causes accidental as well as intentional deaths
Premise : Proposed law will lower the incidence of deaths involving hypodermic needles
Premise : Even knitting needles can cause death (lethal)

Conclusion : Proposed law involving hypodermic needles does not make sense.


(A) Knitting needles have been known to cause injury and death.
Correct : Support the argument by asserting the co-relation between knitting n hypodermic needles.

(B) The benefits of hypodermic needles outweigh those of knitting needles.
Incorrect : Only provides backing to the conclusion without attacking the real reason of the argument.

(C) The proposed law would not deter the sort of activity known to result in drug-related deaths.
Incorrect : Irrelevant. How does it matter the proposed law would put off drug related deaths

(D) The proposed law could not be effectively enforced.
Incorrect : Out of Scope. Issue is not about effective enforcement of law.

(E) Knitting needles are not readily available to anybody who wants to obtain them.
Incorrect : Out of Scope. Availability of needles is not an issue here

Yup. A it is. However, I do not agree that C and D are out of scope. In fact, they are very close.