Weaken/Undermine
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LSAT Logical Reasoning › Weaken/Undermine
Historically, there has been little need for the law to directly protect privacy rights. Before the internet was widely used, trespassing laws prohibited violations of privacy within homes. The internet, however, has changed everything. Now, companies monitor the websites people visit and sell data gathered about individuals. While some economic benefits accompany these intrusions, privacy interests are sacrificed. New laws are needed to address modern privacy concerns.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
Current trespass laws prohibit companies from monitoring the websites people visit and selling data gathered about individuals
Individuals, in addition to companies, monitor the websites people visit
Historically, trespass laws that prohibit violations of privacy have often been ignored
Without the ability to monitor the use of websites, many popular websites would not be able to function
Those who use the internet are generally unaware that companies monitor the websites people visit and sell data collected about individuals
Explanation
The argument claims that trespass laws once prohibited violations of privacy but are now inadequate because of new types of privacy violations. The argument is directly undermined if trespass laws prohibit both old and modern privacy violations. There would no longer seem to be a need for new laws.
Coffee allows people to stay awake, when they would otherwise have had to go to sleep, because of its caffeine content. According to several recent studies, people who drink coffee actually go to sleep earlier than people who drink no coffee. Therefore, coffee actually makes people go to sleep.
The strongest criticism of the argument is that it:
Fails to consider other factors which might make someone drink coffee yet also go to sleep early.
Claims something is true without scientific evidence of the proof of it’s factual truth.
Cites several studies that are inconsistent with its conclusion.
Assumes caffeine is present in all coffee.
Concludes that people who do not drink coffee are not drinking other beverages which provide them with a source of caffeine.
Explanation
There are facts in this problem which are intended to throw you off. The caffeine in coffee in this case does not matter. The studies only concluded that people who drink coffee go to sleep earlier than people who do not drink coffee. The problem does not state why, it could be that people who drink coffee are avoiding the higher caffeine content of energy drinks that everyone else drinks or it could be something else. That coffee makes people go to sleep is never stated as a fact. A causal relationship between coffee and sleep was never established.
Historically, there has been little need for the law to directly protect privacy rights. Before the internet was widely used, trespassing laws prohibited violations of privacy within homes. The internet, however, has changed everything. Now, companies monitor the websites people visit and sell data gathered about individuals. While some economic benefits accompany these intrusions, privacy interests are sacrificed. New laws are needed to address modern privacy concerns.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
Current trespass laws prohibit companies from monitoring the websites people visit and selling data gathered about individuals
Individuals, in addition to companies, monitor the websites people visit
Historically, trespass laws that prohibit violations of privacy have often been ignored
Without the ability to monitor the use of websites, many popular websites would not be able to function
Those who use the internet are generally unaware that companies monitor the websites people visit and sell data collected about individuals
Explanation
The argument claims that trespass laws once prohibited violations of privacy but are now inadequate because of new types of privacy violations. The argument is directly undermined if trespass laws prohibit both old and modern privacy violations. There would no longer seem to be a need for new laws.
Professor: I cannot agree with the common sentiment that there should be fewer math requirements for children. While few children will directly use math for their careers, studying math strengthens important skills. Through math classes, children learn to follow complex instructions, reason, and confirm results. These skills are valuable for life and careers. Besides, most other subjects that children learn are also only indirectly useful.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
Children learn to follow complex instructions, reason, and confirm results from subjects other than math
Most employers do not require employees to have strong math skills
Most employers do not require employees to follow complex instructions or confirm results
Those who support reducing math requirements usually advocate reducing requirements for other subjects as well
Some skills are more important for life and careers than following complex instructions, reasoning, and confirming results
Explanation
The professor suggests that math requirements should not be reduced because math teaches children three particular skills. The professors argument is severely weakened if other subjects also teach children those skills.
Cell phone technology has progressed more quickly than almost anyone could have predicted. Only fifteen years ago was it even conceivable that handheld devices might be able to both store large amounts of data and access the internet. Yet, just a few years later, cell phones accomplish both of these things and are readily accessible to the public. While technology usually advances at predictable, moderate speed, advancements during some periods are so rapid as to be truly remarkable. The development of the cell phone provides an example of just such a time.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
Although cell phone capabilities changed drastically over the last fifteen years, the technology behind the changes developed at a predictable, moderate speed
Stages of rapid development have occurred periodically for at least four centuries
Cell phones are not readily accessible, even now, in many parts of the world
Modern cell phones have often been used to commit sophisticated financial crimes that were previously impossible
Cell phones that cannot access the internet are still used
Explanation
The key assertion of the argument is that cell phone development illustrates a phenomenon of rapid technological development. This assertion is directly undermined if cell phone technology actually developed at predictable, moderate speeds.
Coffee allows people to stay awake, when they would otherwise have had to go to sleep, because of its caffeine content. According to several recent studies, people who drink coffee actually go to sleep earlier than people who drink no coffee. Therefore, coffee actually makes people go to sleep.
The strongest criticism of the argument is that it:
Fails to consider other factors which might make someone drink coffee yet also go to sleep early.
Claims something is true without scientific evidence of the proof of it’s factual truth.
Cites several studies that are inconsistent with its conclusion.
Assumes caffeine is present in all coffee.
Concludes that people who do not drink coffee are not drinking other beverages which provide them with a source of caffeine.
Explanation
There are facts in this problem which are intended to throw you off. The caffeine in coffee in this case does not matter. The studies only concluded that people who drink coffee go to sleep earlier than people who do not drink coffee. The problem does not state why, it could be that people who drink coffee are avoiding the higher caffeine content of energy drinks that everyone else drinks or it could be something else. That coffee makes people go to sleep is never stated as a fact. A causal relationship between coffee and sleep was never established.
Baseball has undergone a revolution in the past two decades, thanks to the introduction of advanced analytical methods. Baseball executives began applying statistical analysis to their decision-making progress, and the teams that first jumped on this bandwagon have been the most successful teams in recent years. Traditional baseball executives are a dying breed, and those that have lasted have been forced to adopt the new methods.
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
"Traditional baseball executives" have won more games than "advanced analytic" executives over the past five seasons.
Advanced statistical analysts often have strong disagreements over what provides the most value in baseball.
Traditional forms of analysis won championships in baseball for years before the introduction of advanced statistical analysis.
Certain baseball executives have argued that "advanced analytical methods" should include more than statistical analysis.
The precepts of "advanced statistical analysis" in baseball have not been taken up at the college or high-school levels of the game.
Explanation
The argument is that "advanced statistical analysis" has generally taken over in most baseball front offices, killing off the "traditional methods." If it is true that the executives who have been most successful recently, which is defined by winning the most games, are the ones who follow "traditional" methods, then the overall argument is considerably weakened.
Cell phone technology has progressed more quickly than almost anyone could have predicted. Only fifteen years ago was it even conceivable that handheld devices might be able to both store large amounts of data and access the internet. Yet, just a few years later, cell phones accomplish both of these things and are readily accessible to the public. While technology usually advances at predictable, moderate speed, advancements during some periods are so rapid as to be truly remarkable. The development of the cell phone provides an example of just such a time.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
Although cell phone capabilities changed drastically over the last fifteen years, the technology behind the changes developed at a predictable, moderate speed
Stages of rapid development have occurred periodically for at least four centuries
Cell phones are not readily accessible, even now, in many parts of the world
Modern cell phones have often been used to commit sophisticated financial crimes that were previously impossible
Cell phones that cannot access the internet are still used
Explanation
The key assertion of the argument is that cell phone development illustrates a phenomenon of rapid technological development. This assertion is directly undermined if cell phone technology actually developed at predictable, moderate speeds.
Baseball has undergone a revolution in the past two decades, thanks to the introduction of advanced analytical methods. Baseball executives began applying statistical analysis to their decision-making progress, and the teams that first jumped on this bandwagon have been the most successful teams in recent years. Traditional baseball executives are a dying breed, and those that have lasted have been forced to adopt the new methods.
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
"Traditional baseball executives" have won more games than "advanced analytic" executives over the past five seasons.
Advanced statistical analysts often have strong disagreements over what provides the most value in baseball.
Traditional forms of analysis won championships in baseball for years before the introduction of advanced statistical analysis.
Certain baseball executives have argued that "advanced analytical methods" should include more than statistical analysis.
The precepts of "advanced statistical analysis" in baseball have not been taken up at the college or high-school levels of the game.
Explanation
The argument is that "advanced statistical analysis" has generally taken over in most baseball front offices, killing off the "traditional methods." If it is true that the executives who have been most successful recently, which is defined by winning the most games, are the ones who follow "traditional" methods, then the overall argument is considerably weakened.
Professor: I cannot agree with the common sentiment that there should be fewer math requirements for children. While few children will directly use math for their careers, studying math strengthens important skills. Through math classes, children learn to follow complex instructions, reason, and confirm results. These skills are valuable for life and careers. Besides, most other subjects that children learn are also only indirectly useful.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
Children learn to follow complex instructions, reason, and confirm results from subjects other than math
Most employers do not require employees to have strong math skills
Most employers do not require employees to follow complex instructions or confirm results
Those who support reducing math requirements usually advocate reducing requirements for other subjects as well
Some skills are more important for life and careers than following complex instructions, reasoning, and confirming results
Explanation
The professor suggests that math requirements should not be reduced because math teaches children three particular skills. The professors argument is severely weakened if other subjects also teach children those skills.