IMAT 2014 Q13 [Argument | Smoking]

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In many countries shocking images of the damage smoking can do to the body are displayed on cigarette packets. Images of rotting teeth, mouth tumours and cancerous lungs are among the grim pictures. A review concluded that shocking pictures of the damage smoking can do are a cost effective way to help smokers to quit and discourage others from starting. All countries should introduce these kinds of images to discourage smoking.

Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the above argument?

A. Pictures that arouse emotions are especially effective.

B. Smokers are likely to die younger than non­smokers.

C. The USA is planning to display shocking images on cigarette packets.

D. Governments receive a significant amount of revenue from taxes on tobacco products.

E. In countries using the images there are high taxes on tobacco and a ban on advertising.

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Steps:

  1. Find the Argument

  2. Find supporting evidence in the text, this is needed before we analyse our possible answers.

  3. Eliminate easy options
    These will be the answers that are opposite to what you want (ex. Strengthen instead of weakening)

  4. Determine which answer strengthens or weakens the argument THE MOST

The argument is stating that these images are effective at discouraging smokers, therefore they should be implemented in all countries to discourage smoking. To weaken the argument we need to find a way to attack this, find a way to prove that maybe these images are not as effective as we think.

A Pictures that arouse emotions are especially effective:

This is easily eliminated because it does the opposite of what we want to do, it strengthens the argument instead of weakening it. If these pictures are effective then it reinforces the argument. Therefore A is incorrect.

B Smokers are likely to die younger than non­smokers:

This is a reason to discourage smoking but it is not related to the argument of the author. The author is talking specifically about the effect of images added to smoking packets and due to their effectiveness, they should be used worldwide. Therefore B is incorrect as it is not related to the argument and holds no effect on the efficasity of these pictures.

C The USA is planning to display shocking images on cigarette packets:

This does not change anything in our argument. One country changing their packaging is not enough, and this answer does not provide any results on what will or is expected to happen, so maybe there is or is not a big change. Therefore C is incorrect because it does not change the argument even if true.

D Governments receive a significant amount of revenue from taxes on tobacco products:

This would be a reason as to why the governments would not want to use these images but again, this does not change the argument of the author. The author does not care about the financial benefit of the government gained from smokers, and this answer choice does not attack the author’s argument because it does not attack the effective of these images. Therefore D is incorrect.

E In countries using the images there are high taxes on tobacco and a ban on advertising:

This answer weakens the argument because it confuses cause and correlation. Now that we know that there are other reasons that could be the cause in the reduction of the popularity of smoking, we cannot say that these images are surely effective, and if we cannot conclude that they are effective, then how can the author recommend using them to other countries? This opens the door for doubt in the author’s argument, it does not prove it fully wrong because now we do not know what truly is discouraging the smokers but it weakens the argument. Therefore E is correct.