Critical Reasoning

Whenever a major airplane accident occurs, there is a dramatic increase in the number of airplane mishaps reported in the media, a phenomenon that may last for as long as a few months after the accident. Airline officials assert that the publicity given the gruesomeness of major airplane accidents focuses media attention on the airline industry, and the increase in the number of reported accidents is caused by an increase in the number of news sources covering airline accidents, not by an increase in the number of accidents.

Which of the following, if true, would seriously weaken the assertions of the airline officials?

A. The publicity surrounding airline accidents is largely limited to the country in which the crash occurred.

B. Airline accidents tend to occur far more often during certain peak travel months.

C. News organizations do not have any guidelines to help them decide how severe an accident must be for it to receive coverage.

D. Airplane accidents receive coverage by news sources only when the news sources find it advantageous to do so.

E. Studies by government regulations show that the number of airplane flight miles remains relatively constant from month to month.

IMO - B

A. The publicity surrounding airline accidents is largely limited to the country in which the crash occurred. - Does not weakens the argument

B. Airline accidents tend to occur far more often during certain peak travel months. - This option suggests that accidents are more in during the peak months therefore weakens the argument

C. News organizations do not have any guidelines to help them decide how severe an accident must be for it to receive coverage. - Irrelevant

D. Airplane accidents receive coverage by news sources only when the news sources find it advantageous to do so. - Strengthens the argument

E. Studies by government regulations show that the number of airplane flight miles remains relatively constant from month to month. - does not gives any info on accidents

IMO B as well.

A. Possibly strengthens.
B. Weakens.
C. Irrelevant.
D. Possibly strengthens.
E. Irrelevant.

umaa wrote:Whenever a major airplane accident occurs, there is a dramatic increase in the number of airplane mishaps reported in the media, a phenomenon that may last for as long as a few months after the accident. Airline officials assert that the publicity given the gruesomeness of major airplane accidents focuses media attention on the airline industry, and the increase in the number of reported accidents is caused by an increase in the number of news sources covering airline accidents, not by an increase in the number of accidents.

Which of the following, if true, would seriously weaken the assertions of the airline officials?

A. The publicity surrounding airline accidents is largely limited to the country in which the crash occurred.

B. Airline accidents tend to occur far more often during certain peak travel months.

C. News organizations do not have any guidelines to help them decide how severe an accident must be for it to receive coverage.

D. Airplane accidents receive coverage by news sources only when the news sources find it advantageous to do so.

E. Studies by government regulations show that the number of airplane flight miles remains relatively constant from month to month.

B is the correct choice as it clearly indicates that it is not media who exaggerate the no. of accidents, it is the peak season of plane crashes that is responsible for increase in the number of reported accidents..
Hence weakens the argument..

OA is B

Yeah, C seems like the best answer