A
evidence supporting the claim that the intellectual skills fostered by the literary media are being destroyed by the electronic media
B
an illustration of the general hypothesis being advanced that intellectual abilities are inseparable from the means by which people communicate
C
an example of a cultural change that did not necessarily have a detrimental effect on the human mind overall
D
evidence that the claim that the intellectual skills required and fostered by the literary media are being lost is unwarranted
E
possible evidence, mentioned and then dismissed, that might be cited by supporters of the hypothesis being criticized
Consumer: The latest Connorly Report suggests that Ocksenfrey prepackaged meals are virtually devoid of nutritional value. But the Connorly Report is commissioned by Danto Foods, Ocksenfrey’s largest corporate rival, and early drafts of the report are submitted for approval to Danto Foods’ public relations department. Because of the obvious bias of this report, it is clear that Ocksenfrey’s prepackaged meals really are nutritious.
A
treats evidence that there is an apparent bias as evidence that the Connorly Report’s claims are false
The consumer treats evidence that the Connorly Report is biased as evidence that their claim about Ocksenfrey meals is false. He doesn’t provide any evidence that Ocksenfrey meals are actually nutritious. It’s possible they do lack nutrition, even if the report is biased.
B
draws a conclusion based solely on an unrepresentative sample of Ocksenfrey’s products
This is the cookie-cutter flaw of using an unrepresentative sample. The consumer’s conclusion is about all Ocksenfrey prepackaged meals, and he doesn't mention samples at all. So we can’t know if his conclusion is based on an unrepresentative sample or not.
C
fails to take into account the possibility that Ocksenfrey has just as much motivation to create negative publicity for Danto as Danto has to create negative publicity for Ocksenfrey
The consumer’s conclusion is that Ocksenfrey meals are nutritious. Whether Ocksenfrey has motivation to create negative publicity for Danto doesn’t affect this conclusion, nor does it affect the claim that Danto’s reporting is biased.
D
fails to provide evidence that Danto Foods’ prepackaged meals are not more nutritious than Ocksenfrey’s are
The consumer concludes that Ocksenfrey meals are nutritious; he doesn’t need to prove that they’re more nutritious than Danto meals. Even if Danto meals were more nutritious, it wouldn’t affect the conclusion or the claim that Danto’s report is biased.
E
presumes, without providing justification, that Danto Foods’ public relations department would not approve a draft of a report that was hostile to Danto Foods’ products
The consumer doesn't presume this. All we know is that Danto’s PR department did approve a draft of a report that was hostile to, or at least negative to, Ocksenfrey meals. Whether they’d also approve a draft that was hostile to Danto’s own products is irrelevant.