GRE General TestAnalytical WritingEasy
A community group is advocating for the installation of speed bumps on residential streets, arguing that this measure will significantly reduce traffic accidents involving pedestrians. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the community group's argument?
- AMost pedestrian accidents in the community occur on main arterial roads, not residential streets.
- BA similar community implemented speed bumps and saw a 15% reduction in overall traffic accidents.
- CThe cost of installing speed bumps is significantly higher than alternative traffic calming measures.
- DDrivers often speed up between speed bumps to compensate for lost time.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Most pedestrian accidents in the community occur on main arterial roads, not residential streets.
To weaken the argument that speed bumps on residential streets will reduce pedestrian accidents, one must show that the proposed solution does not address the primary location of the problem. If most accidents occur on main roads, then residential speed bumps will have little impact.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. This would strengthen the argument, suggesting speed bumps are effective.
- C. The cost is irrelevant to whether speed bumps reduce accidents, only to their feasibility or desirability.
- D. While a potential drawback, this doesn't directly address the claim about reducing pedestrian accidents on residential streets, as speeding between bumps might not negate the overall slowing effect or impact pedestrian safety in the same way.
Weakening an Argument
To weaken an argument means to introduce information that makes the conclusion less likely to be true, often by challenging an assumption, providing an alternative cause, or showing the evidence is irrelevant.
- Targets the logical link between premises and conclusion.
- Does not necessarily prove the conclusion false, just less probable.
- Often introduces new evidence or reinterprets existing evidence.
Memory trick: To weaken, find the crack in the argument's wall.