GRE General TestAnalytical WritingMedium
A research team proposes that to improve public health, a city should allocate a significant portion of its budget to building new, state-of-the-art sports facilities. They argue that increased access to such facilities will directly lead to higher rates of physical activity among residents, thereby reducing the incidence of lifestyle-related diseases. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the research team's argument?
- AStudies show that communities with more sports facilities generally have healthier populations.
- BMany residents currently lack the free time to utilize existing sports facilities, even if they are easily accessible.
- CThe city's current sports facilities are poorly maintained and infrequently used by residents.
- DOther cities that have invested in similar facilities have seen a modest increase in physical activity among certain age groups.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Many residents currently lack the free time to utilize existing sports facilities, even if they are easily accessible.
The argument assumes that access to facilities is the primary barrier to physical activity. If lack of time is the actual barrier, then building new facilities will not achieve the desired outcome, thus weakening the argument.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This option supports the idea that sports facilities correlate with healthier populations, which would strengthen, not weaken, the argument.
- C. This option suggests that current facilities are a problem, implying that new facilities might be a solution, which would strengthen or at least not weaken the argument.
- D. A modest increase suggests some success, which would not significantly weaken the argument; it might even offer slight support, albeit with limitations.
Weakening an Argument
To weaken an argument means to identify information that makes the conclusion less likely to be true, often by challenging an assumption or introducing an alternative cause/effect.
- Targets the logical connection between premises and conclusion.
- Often introduces new information that contradicts an underlying assumption.
- Does not necessarily prove the conclusion false, just makes it less probable.
Memory trick: To weaken, find the crack in the foundation, not just a scratch on the wall.