A
It is the conclusion drawn in the argument.
B
It is a claim that the argument shows to be inconsistent with available evidence.
C
It is used to provide a causal explanation for an observed phenomenon.
D
It describes evidence that the argument ultimately refutes.
E
It is a premise offered in support of the conclusion drawn in the argument.
Trampoline enthusiast: I disagree. In the past ten years sales of home trampolines have increased much more than trampoline-related injuries have: 260 percent in sales compared with 154 percent in injuries. Every exercise activity carries risks, even when carried out under professional supervision.
A
trampolines cause injuries to a significant number of people using them
B
home trampolines are the main source of trampoline-related injuries
C
the rate of trampoline-related injuries, in terms of the number of injuries per trampoline user, is declining
D
professional supervision of trampoline use tends to reduce the number of trampoline-related injuries
E
trampoline use is an activity that warrants mandatory professional supervision
Interior decorator: All coffeehouses and restaurants are public places. Most well-designed public places feature artwork. But if a public place is uncomfortable it is not well designed, and all comfortable public places have spacious interiors.
Summary
All coffeehouses are public places.
All restaurants are public places.
Most well-designed public places feature artwork.
If a public place is uncomfortable it is not well-designed.
All comfortable public places have spacious interiors.
Notable Valid Inferences
We can connect the conditional statements in the last sentence. If a public place is well-designed, that means it is comfortable. That in turn means the well-designed public place has a spacious interior.
A
Any restaurant that has a spacious interior is comfortable.
Could be false. We know all public places that are comfortable have spacious interiors. That doesn’t imply all public places with spacious interiors are comfortable. They might be uncomfortable places despite having spacious interiors.
B
Most public places that feature artwork are well designed.
Could be false. We know most well-designed public places feature artwork. That doesn’t mean most public places featuring artwork are well-designed. Most A is B doesn’t imply Most B is A.
C
Most coffeehouses that are well designed feature artwork.
Could be false. We know most well-designed public places feature artwork. Coffeehouses are just one kind of public place. The well-designed public places that feature artwork might just be other kinds of public places besides coffeehouses.
D
Any well-designed coffeehouse or restaurant has a spacious interior.
Must be true. Coffeehouses and restaurants are public places. So, if they’re well-designed, they must be comfortable. If they’re comfortable, they have a spacious interior.
E
Any coffeehouse that has a spacious interior is a well-designed public place.
Could be false. We know well-designed public places have spacious interiors. That doesn’t imply all public places with spacious interiors are well-designed. There could be some public places with spacious interiors that are not well-designed.