PrepTest C, Section 2, Question 3
Columnist: Polls can influence voters' decisions, and they may distort the outcome of an election since their results are much less reliable than the public believes. Furthermore, the publication of polls immediately prior to an election allows no response from those wishing to dispute the polls' findings. A ban on publishing polls during the week prior to an election only minimally impairs freedom of expression, and thus should be implemented.
Columnist: Polls can influence voters' decisions, and they may distort the outcome of an election since their results are much less reliable than the public believes. Furthermore, the publication of polls immediately prior to an election allows no response from those wishing to dispute the polls' findings. A ban on publishing polls during the week prior to an election only minimally impairs freedom of expression, and thus should be implemented.
Columnist: Polls can influence voters' decisions, and they may distort the outcome of an election since their results are much less reliable than the public believes. Furthermore, the publication of polls immediately prior to an election allows no response from those wishing to dispute the polls' findings. A ban on publishing polls during the week prior to an election only minimally impairs freedom of expression, and thus should be implemented.
Columnist: Polls can influence voters' decisions, and they may distort the outcome of an election since their results are much less reliable than the public believes. Furthermore, the publication of polls immediately prior to an election allows no response from those wishing to dispute the polls' findings. A ban on publishing polls during the week prior to an election only minimally impairs freedom of expression, and thus should be implemented.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the columnist's argument?
Few people are influenced by the results of polls published during the two weeks immediately prior to an election.
The publication of poll results would not decide the winner of an uneven election race.
The publication of poll results may remove some voters' motivation to vote because of the certainty that a particular candidate will win.
The publication of poll results in the last weeks before an election draws attention to candidates' late gains in popularity.
Countries in which such a ban is in effect do not generally have better informed citizens than do countries in which such a ban is not in effect.
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