First, let's identify the flawed reasoning in the argument.
Conclusion: there is little or no connection between recognition of cigarette brand logos and smoking.
Why? Even though polling data reveal that an overwhelming majority of nine-year-olds correctly identify the logos of major cigarette brands, less than 1% of these children smoke.
The issue here is that we are taking a myopic view of this study. What are the long term effects, i.e. will these nine-year-old grow up to be adults who smoke because of the fact that at this age they can correctly identify the logos of major cigarette brands? If so, then there is a connection between recognition of cigarette brand logos and smoking.
Answer choice (D), unlike the argument, does take a long term approach to the issue: "throughout their lives." Thus, it does not display the same flawed reasoning as that in the passage.
Hope that helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
JosephOctober 18, 2015
Thank you. That helps.
halleraeMarch 6, 2018
I'm still confused here, where did you get the "long-term" connection from the passage?
