PrepTest 76, Section 2, Question 8
Merton: A study showed that people who live on very busy streets have higher rates of heart disease than average. I conclude that this elevated rate of heart disease is caused by air pollution from automobile exhaust.
Merton: A study showed that people who live on very busy streets have higher rates of heart disease than average. I conclude that this elevated rate of heart disease is caused by air pollution from automobile exhaust.
Ortiz: Are you sure? Do we know whether people living on busy streets have other lifestyle factors that are especially conducive to heart disease?
Merton: A study showed that people who live on very busy streets have higher rates of heart disease than average. I conclude that this elevated rate of heart disease is caused by air pollution from automobile exhaust.
Ortiz: Are you sure? Do we know whether people living on busy streets have other lifestyle factors that are especially conducive to heart disease?
Merton: A study showed that people who live on very busy streets have higher rates of heart disease than average. I conclude that this elevated rate of heart disease is caused by air pollution from automobile exhaust.
Ortiz criticizes Merton's argument by
raising a question about the validity of the study that Merton cites
contending that Merton needs to take into account other effects of air pollution
claiming that Merton misunderstands a crucial aspect of the study's findings
raising a counterexample to the general conclusion that Merton draws
suggesting that alternative explanations for the study's findings need to be ruled out
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