Weaken the conclusion is the most common critical reasoning question type, so the chance that you will encounter several variations of this question on the actual exam is very high. It’s important to remember that the proper identification of the question is half the battle because the question type will dictate how we analyze the argument. Weaken the conclusion questions can be hidden in a variety of disguises.
Common forms of this question are:
- Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the claim…
- Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines…
- Which of the following, if true, is most damaging to…
- Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens…
What to look for
No matter how the question is phrased, there are essentially two ways for a conclusion to be weakened. The answer will either reveal an incorrect assumption, or try to introduce a piece of contradictory evidence. In either case, look at the conclusion sentence, which you should have already identified from your diagram.
Example
A law requiring companies to offer employees unpaid time off to care for their children will harm the economic competitiveness of our nation’s businesses. Companies must be free to set their own employment policies without mandated parental-leave regulations.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the conclusion of the argument above?
- A parental-leave law will serve to strengthen the family as a social institution in this country.
- Many businesses in this country already offer employees some form of parental leave.
- Some of the countries with the most economically competitive businesses have strong parental-leave regulations.
- Only companies with one hundred or more employees would be subject to the proposed parental-leave law.
- In most polls, a majority of citizens say they favor passage of a parental-leave law.
The Diagram
1E Law require company offer employee unpaid time to care children
3C Harm economic competitiveness
2E Company must be free set own policy
Explanation
Looking through the answer choices, A and E can be eliminated. These choices are outside the scope of the conclusion. The main subject of the passage is “economic competitiveness of our nation’s business,” not the “family as a social institution.” Also the citizen’s opinion is not relevant to the message in the passage. Look for answer choices that offer detracting evidence or reveal faulty assumptions. B does neither. C offers a corollary to the law but does not have information pertaining to the conclusion, which is the economic competitiveness of a nation’s business. Answer C states that many other countries manage to stay competitive despite strong parental leave laws. C is the correct answer.
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