June 2007 PrepTest, Section 3, Question 21
By Brandon Beaver | Published October 29, 2024
Type: Weaken
Difficulty:
Explanations
Start with the conclusion: Meat will soon be morally unacceptable. Why does the author think that’s true? Can you find anything in the passage speaking to morality? No? Me either.
So, we know the missing piece: “If [the premises are true, indicating that] producing food of one type will become too difficult, then eating that type of food will soon be morally acceptable.” To weaken this argument, just say that the assumption is false.
A
Healthfulness is not mentioned.
B
Well that isn’t the weakness I pointed out, but yeah, that’s another issue with the argument. The author takes issue with raising cattle (1) with grain and (2) by using farmland that’s going out of production. Some types of meat, however, can be raised in places where (1) grain isn’t needed and (2) farmland isn’t being wasted.
C
This strengthens (albeit minimally).
D
This does nothing. This proposes a “solution” that no one wants to put in practice.
E
The author isn’t suggesting we all switch to a grain diet. The author is simply saying that sixteen pounds of grain is better than one pound of meat. The author doesn’t say to only eat those sixteen pounds of grain, however!
Passage
Ethicist: On average, animals raised on grain must be fed s
Question 21
Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the e