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Critical Reasoning

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Critical Reasoning

by gunjan1208 » Tue Oct 04, 2011 5:31 am
Opponents of laws that require automobile drivers and passengers to wear seat belts argue that in a free
society people have the right to take risks as long as the people do not harm other as a result of taking the risks.
As a result, they conclude that it should be each person's decision whether or not to wear a seat belt.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion drawn above?
A. Many new cars are built with seat belts that automatically fasten when someone sits in the front seat.
B. Automobile insurance rates for all automobile owners are higher because of the need to pay for the
increased injuries or deaths of people not wearing seat belts.
C. Passengers in airplanes are required to wear seat belts during takeoffs and landings.
D. The rate of automobile fatalities in states that do not have mandatory seat belt laws is greater than the rate
of fatalities in states that do have such laws.
E. In automobile accidents, a greater number of passengers who do not wear seat belts are injured than are
passengers who do wear seat belts.

Source: OG10
OA: B

My question is why not E
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by DevitaN » Tue Oct 04, 2011 6:21 am
Your goal here is to weaken the argument that not wearing seat belts harms ONLY those who make the choice not to wear seat belts. When I started reading the choices, I immediately sought out an answer choice that showed that not wearing seat belts causes harm to others.

Now, I was looking for something about safety and/or bodily harm to others or the likes, but essentially harm can mean any negative effect. Because those people who choose not to wear seat belts are hurting ALL automobile drivers through higher insurance payments, this answer choice is correct. This is the only answer choice that shows how people not wearing their seat belts are causing an adverse effect on others who DO wear their seat belts, even though it's only in the capacity of higher insurance and not something more drastic and life-threatening. I think that's what makes this passage a bit tricky. You think this answer choice is out of scope, but it's not.

Your answer is incorrect because regardless of if the passenger does or does not wear a seat belt, he or she is not having any affect on others. Now, if this answer choice read something like: "Passengers who do not wear their seat belts are more likely to distract the driver, who may or may not be wearing a seatbelt, and thus lead to an increased likelyhood of accidents." This would be a way to show that people not wearing a seat belt aren't only putting themselves at risks, but they are are putting others, who may or may not choose to wear a seat belt, at risk too.
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by 1947 » Tue Oct 04, 2011 6:28 am
gunjan1208 wrote:Opponents of laws that require automobile drivers and passengers to wear seat belts argue that in a free
society people have the right to take risks as long as the people do not harm other as a result of taking the risks.
As a result, they conclude that it should be each person's decision whether or not to wear a seat belt.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion drawn above?
A. Many new cars are built with seat belts that automatically fasten when someone sits in the front seat.
B. Automobile insurance rates for all automobile owners are higher because of the need to pay for the
increased injuries or deaths of people not wearing seat belts.
C. Passengers in airplanes are required to wear seat belts during takeoffs and landings.
D. The rate of automobile fatalities in states that do not have mandatory seat belt laws is greater than the rate
of fatalities in states that do have such laws.
E. In automobile accidents, a greater number of passengers who do not wear seat belts are injured than are
passengers who do wear seat belts.

Source: OG10
OA: B

My question is why not E
Conclusion is "it should be each person's decision whether or not to wear a seat belt." Meaning wearing or not wearing seat belt should not cause problems to others.
To weaken this conclusion we need to find an option where in not wearing seat belt should cause problem to those who wear the seat belt.
Which is what is happening in B.
Hope this explains.
If my post helped you- let me know by pushing the thanks button. Thanks
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