Which finding would weaken (or strengthen) a claim?

Question 1

A school claims that its new reading programme raised pupils' reading scores. Which finding would most directly WEAKEN this claim?

• A. Teachers received training for the programme.
• B. The programme was expensive.
• C. Pupils enjoyed the programme.
• D. Reading scores rose by the same amount at nearby schools that did not use the programme.

Question 2

Is the proposed answer correct? A school claims that its new reading programme raised pupils' reading scores. Which finding would most directly WEAKEN this claim? → Reading scores rose by the same amount at nearby schools that did not use the programme.

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 3

A literary critic claims that a novelist's later books are more optimistic than her early ones. Which finding would most directly SUPPORT this claim?

• A. She wrote her early novels in a city.
• B. In her later novels, most main characters end the story with their problems resolved, unlike in her early novels.
• C. Her later novels are longer.
• D. Her later novels sold more copies.

Question 4

Is the proposed answer correct? A literary critic claims that a novelist's later books are more optimistic than her early ones. Which finding would most directly SUPPORT this claim? → In her later novels, most main characters end the story with their problems resolved, unlike in her early novels.

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 5

A researcher claims that playing music to cows increases the amount of milk they produce. Which finding would most directly SUPPORT this claim?

• A. In a controlled study, cows that heard calm music produced more milk than similar cows that heard no music.
• B. Farmers enjoy listening to music.
• C. Cows can hear a wide range of sounds.
• D. Milk production varies across seasons.

Question 6

Is the proposed answer correct? A literary critic claims that a novelist's later books are more optimistic than her early ones. Which finding would most directly SUPPORT this claim? → Her later novels are longer.

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 7

An economist argues that a city's new metro line caused local shops to earn more. Which finding would most directly WEAKEN this argument?

• A. The metro trains run every four minutes.
• B. The metro line cost billions to build.
• C. Shops far from any metro station saw the same rise in earnings during the same period.
• D. Many tourists use the metro.

Question 8

Is the proposed answer correct? A historian argues that a medieval town grew rich mainly through the wool trade. Which finding would most directly WEAKEN this argument? → Tax records show that wool made up less than 5% of the town's trade income.

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 9

A historian argues that a medieval town grew rich mainly through the wool trade. Which finding would most directly WEAKEN this argument?

• A. Tax records show that wool made up less than 5% of the town's trade income.
• B. Sheep were kept on nearby farms.
• C. The town had several large churches.
• D. Wool was traded in many medieval towns.

Question 10

Is the proposed answer correct? A researcher claims that playing music to cows increases the amount of milk they produce. Which finding would most directly SUPPORT this claim? → In a controlled study, cows that heard calm music produced more milk than similar cows that heard no music.

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 11

A researcher claims that playing music to cows increases the amount of milk they produce. Which finding would most directly SUPPORT this claim?

• A. Farmers enjoy listening to music.
• B. Cows can hear a wide range of sounds.
• C. Milk production varies across seasons.
• D. In a controlled study, cows that heard calm music produced more milk than similar cows that heard no music.

Question 12

Is the proposed answer correct? An economist argues that a city's new metro line caused local shops to earn more. Which finding would most directly WEAKEN this argument? → Shops far from any metro station saw the same rise in earnings during the same period.

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 13

A school claims that its new reading programme raised pupils' reading scores. Which finding would most directly WEAKEN this claim?

• A. The programme was expensive.
• B. Pupils enjoyed the programme.
• C. Reading scores rose by the same amount at nearby schools that did not use the programme.
• D. Teachers received training for the programme.

Question 14

Is the proposed answer correct? A researcher claims that a new fertiliser causes tomato plants to produce more fruit. Which finding would most directly WEAKEN this claim? → Plants given the fertiliser produced the same amount of fruit as identical plants given only water.

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 15

Scientists propose that a species of bird uses Earth's magnetic field to navigate. Which finding would most directly SUPPORT this proposal?

• A. Birds became disoriented when small magnets were attached to them, but not when non-magnetic weights were attached.
• B. The birds eat insects during migration.
• C. The birds fly mostly at night.
• D. The birds travel over 5,000 kilometres.

Question 16

Is the proposed answer correct? A researcher claims that playing music to cows increases the amount of milk they produce. Which finding would most directly SUPPORT this claim? → Cows can hear a wide range of sounds.

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct