| Evidence Questions Prove the Author Wrong |
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| You may see this question in a PRAXIS I Reading Test: Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the author's argument concerning X? What in the world does that mean? Well, that first part - "which of the following, if true" - is talking about the answer choices. Here's another way to write the first part of this question: Which answer choice contains information that, if that information were correct... The second part of the question asks about the author's "argument". An author's argument is what s/he says when trying to convince someone else of something.. That's all. In this question you are being asked to choose which answer choice you would pick if you wanted to prove the author wrong. Let's try re-wording the question and maybe it will be clearer. Here are a few ways to ask the same question: You think the author might be wrong. How could you argue against her or him? If you wanted to prove the author wrong, what would you say? You don't believe the author. How could you prove your point? Now let's look at a few simple examples of this kind of question: 1) Your friend Drew always turns the heat in his apartment down to 60 degrees when he leaves for the day or even an hour or two. He says this keeps his heating bill low. You think Drew is wrong because is takes less energy to keep an apartment at a steady temperature than it does to let it cool down then warm it up again. How could you argue against him? A) Show him his neighbor's heating bill, which is lower than his because the neighbor keeps her heat set at 68 degrees. B) Show him his neighbor's heating bill, which is higher than his because she keeps her heat set at 68 degrees. You are trying to argue against Drew's statement; you want to convince him he's wrong. If his neighbor's bill were higher than his (choice B) you would show that Drew might be correct. In order to prove Drew wrong, you should choose choice A: show him his neighbor's bill which is lower than his because the neighbor keeps her heat set at 68 degrees. 2) Arlene will never let her children learn to swim until they are 10 years old. She states that their muscles and lungs are not well enough developed to go into the water when they are younger. If you wanted to prove Arlene wrong, what would you say? A) I learned how to swim at age 5. B) The American Academy of Pediatrics states that swimming is safe and healthy for children as young as 4. C) Many children learn to walk before they are 2. Choice C is not a good answer because walking and swimming are two different things. Choice A only proves that you learned to swim at 5 and survived; this may not convince Arlene to let her young children learn to swim. The American Academy of Pediatrics is a reputable group (it has a good reputation). Your best choice of the three offered is choice C because pediatricians are doctors for babies and children, and they would not make a statement unless they had researched the situation. 3) A recent newspaper editorial suggested that the many neighborhood playgrounds in your city are a waste of tax-payers' money, and that one large city playground would be better. You don't believe the author. How would you prove your point? A) Write an editorial stating that the author has never liked living in your city. B) Write an editorial that states you agree with the author. C) Write an editorial citing (using as an example) another city that did this with good results. D) Write an editorial stating that it is important that children have a fun, safe place to play within walking distance of their homes because their parent or parents don't always have the time to take them across town to play. To prove your point, you should choose option D and write an editorial stating that neighborhood children need a safe place to play close to their homes. Choice A would make no difference in the argument, and choices B and C would argue for the editorial you want to argue against. 4) Your best friend is buying beach-front property in coastal Maine for a very low price and suggests you buy a lot as well. She says the property is going for 1/3 of its worth, and you would be a fool if you didn't buy as well. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken your friend's argument that you should buy the property. A) You are 30 years old. B) The property is close to a nice, quiet town. C) The houses on that beach were recently washed away in a storm. D) Maine has many wonderful state parks.. E) You live too far from Maine to be able to enjoy the property often. Choices C and E are both good reasons not to spend money on the property, but the fact that the houses on that property were recently washed away by a storm (C) is the best reason. Choices B and D would make the property more attractive for many people, and choice A, the fact that you are 30 years old, has nothing to do with buying property. |
| What's an argument? Good question! One definition of the word argument is a discussion that gives reasons to agree or disagree with something. An argument in this sense is not words spoken or written in anger; it is words written or spoken to convince someone. |
| What's the difference between an argument and the main idea? Another good question! The author's argument is often the main idea of a passage! |
| Judge Vincente says Drew is wrong based on the evidence that his neighbor's bill is lower! |
| Based on the evidence, Judge Vincente says keep the playgrounds in the neighborhood. |
| The judge says don't spend money on property that, based on the evidence, might get washed into the ocean! |
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