Methods of Reasoning Questions - - Question 9

Like a number of other articles, Ian Raghnall's article relied on a recent survey in which over half the couples appl...

Batman November 28, 2013

Help

How come the choice (d) is not right???

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Mehran November 30, 2013

The conclusion of this argument is the last sentence, i.e. "Despite appearances, the survey data do not establish that financial problems are the major problem in contemporary marriages."

The author supports this claim by pointing out that despite a "recent survey in which over half the couples applying for divorces listed 'money' as a major problem in their marriages"..."couples often express other types of marital frustrations in financial terms."

As such, the author is reinterpreting this survey data to reach a different conclusion than the one drawn by Ian Raghnall.

Answer choice (B) states this exactly, i.e. "undermining a conclusion drawn (i.e. Ian Raghnall's conclusion that financial problems are the major problem in marriages and an important factor contributing to the high divorce rate) from statistical data (i.e. the recent survey) by offering an alternative explanation for some of the data (i.e. couples often express other types of marital frustrations in financial terms)."

Answer choice (D) does not work because the author does not take issue with the survey but rather introduces a consideration that allows us to reinterpret the survey's data.

Hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Batman December 1, 2013

Thank you so much!!!