PrepTest 124

Incorrect. First, for this answer to affect the argument requires the assumption that countries with contiguous borders have similar climates and cultures. Even then, this argument would cut against the argument in questioning whether the listed stresses are actually common for international travelers.

Incorrect. First, enjoying these changes doesn't guarantee that they don't also elicit stress. Second, there's another cause of stress noted that this group could still feel. Third, this answer is about too few of the group ("Some") to have an impact on the argument.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen

Stimulus Summary:
International travel involves stresses outside of the norm. It's also associated with insomnia. Therefore, this stress causes this insomnia.

Answer Anticipation:
A Strengthen question with a causal conclusion? We should absolutely check to see if it's based on a correlation, since correlation/causation flaws are by far the most common in this question type.

Looking at the premises, we can see that a group is "more likely" to have insomnia—that's correlative language. Since that group also experiences certain stresses, the stresses are correlated with this insomnia. There is a correlation/causation flaw, so we should look for the common answers:
(1) Eliminate an alternative cause
(2) More examples of cause and effect coinciding
(3) A "control"—i.e., no cause, no effect

Answer Explanation:
This answer doesn't fall exactly into one of our common Strengthen answer categories, but it does rely on a common Weaken answer—reversed causality—and rules that out, which makes this very similar to an elimination of an alternative cause. This answer provides evidence against the alternative cause/reversed causality that having insomnia might make one more likely to take on this travel/these stresses. If that were the case, the correlation would be explained without the stress causing the insomnia. Since this answer rules out a potential weakener, it strengthens the argument.

Key Takeaway:
There are common correct answers for both Strengthen and Weaken questions featuring correlation/causation flaws. However, those common answers are all related to the same concepts, and so any answer that brings up the cause, the effect, or alternative potential causes should be considered.

Incorrect. First, in dealing with only "some people," this answer is too weak to really have much of an impact. That said, the travel alleviating insomnia would, if anything, contradict the argument.

Incorrect. Without this answer tying specifically to insomnia, this answer is out of scope.