Weaken the argument
Last updated: 13 Oct 2008
Weaken the argument is the easiest and certainly the most common of critical reasoning question types.
In these questions you are asked to identify which of the answer choices would most bring the conclusion of the argument into doubt.
Identifying weaken the argument questions
You will be able to spot a weaken the argument question because it will use words like 'weaken', 'undermine', 'damage', etc. for example:
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...
Strategy for tackling weaken the argument questions
- Identify the argument. Remember, that's usually in the first or last line.
- Anticipate what will be the answer, if possible. Imagine what would satisfy the question- what would weaken the argument. Then look for it in the answer choices.
- Eliminate answer choices that do not weaken the argument.
- If there are two or three answer choices left after the process of elimination, then choose!
Now lets try an example.
