Free Practice Question
CR · Critical Reasoning
555-605
Weaken
Scientist: Individuals with high levels of cortisol often experience increased anxiety. However, my findings indicate that cortisol levels rise during stressful situations, such as public speaking. Therefore, experiencing stress can lead to higher anxiety levels. A questionable aspect of the reasoning above is that it
Answer Choices
Correct answer marked belowtakes a correlation to imply a causal connection
Correct
B
uses the term 'anxiety' without clarification
C
fails to define what constitutes a 'stressful situation'
D
draws conclusions from insufficient evidence
E
infers that public speaking is a result of anxiety
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Explanation
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Official Explanation
Official
The scientist's reasoning suggests that because cortisol levels rise during stressful situations, this implies that stress causes increased anxiety. This is a classic example of taking a correlation (rising cortisol levels and increased anxiety) and implying a direct causal…
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Comments
3
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R
RafidFeb 14, 2025
thanks for posting
C
ChynnaFeb 7, 2024
this pattern comes up frequently
G
GurpreetFeb 1, 2025
pls explain more?
What this question tests
What it tests
Whether you can identify the option that most undermines an argument's conclusion.
Common trap
Choosing an irrelevant objection or one that attacks the premise rather than the reasoning.
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Details
Difficulty
555-605
Type
CR