PrepTest 102

Incorrect. The stimulus compares the average of the two groups, so "some" outliers won't undermine the argument.

Incorrect. Without tying this into happiness, this answer is out of scope.

Incorrect. The conclusion is about maximal happiness—"as happy as possible." As such, being "reasonably happy" is out of scope.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Weaken

Stimulus Summary:
Research - Other things equal, people with pets are less happy than those without
Conclusion - If you want to be your happiest, think about skipping a pet

Answer Anticipation:
It can be a little difficult to see the flaw in this argument, but whenever a premise is talking about average/"other things equal," you should start to think about a common flaw associated with averages—they don't apply to individuals.

While, on average, people with pets may be less happy than those without pets, it could be the case that people who have pets would, individually, be more unhappy without the pets. It's possible that pet owners are naturally less happy than people who don't own pets, and those pets give them a bit of a boost to be happier than they'd otherwise be.

Note that this doesn't change the stimulus—there, it says all other things being equal, so it doesn't include natural happiness levels or pet ownership. And, again, it's possible that pet owners are happier than they'd be without pets, even if they're less happy than non-pet owners. Since the argument ignores this possibility, let's find an answer establishing it.

Answer Explanation:
This answer establishes that pets make pet owners happier. Regardless of whether they're as happy as their non-pet-owning counterparts, these individuals are mostly happier because of the pets, undermining the conclusion that people who want to be as happy as possible should avoid getting a pet.

Key Takeaway:
When an argument talks about averages, it can't be applied to individuals.

Incorrect. Feeling unhappy at times doesn't determine overall levels of happiness. Someone who is happy-go-lucky can still get sad when they stub their toe!