PrepTest 150

Incorrect. The conclusion is about whether blinking having an impact is a good thing. Whether debate performance actually has an impact is outside the scope of that.

Incorrect. This evidence aligns with the argument, so it doesn't serve as a weakener. This adds more evidence that a candidate has to blink just right, which the author doesn't think is related to job performance.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Weaken

Stimulus Summary:
Politicians who blink more during a debate are viewed as doing worse than those who blink an average amount. However, blink rate is not a feature that plays into how good of a job they'll do in office, so if the blinking changes their likelihood of winning, that's a bad thing.

Answer Anticipation:
Someone's blink rate doesn't impact their job performance, but the argument admits there are other traits that do—knowledgeableness, confidence being two. If blinking is evidence that someone lacks a positive trait, then that would suggest the effect that blinking has on their chances has a positive effect on election outcomes.

Answer Explanation:
This answer choice connects blinking to a trait that has been established by the argument as an important determinant in job performance for politicians. If excessive blinking suggests a lack of confidence, which suggests poor job performance if elected, then blinking affecting an election outcome is a positive thing, and the conclusion is wrong.

Key Takeaway:
If an argument's conclusion is about whether a particular method of reaching a conclusion is good, answer choices about other methods are generally out of scope. You can have multiple good or bad methods.

Incorrect. This answer choice doesn't connect blinking to any of these positive characteristics, so it doesn't have an impact on the argument.

Incorrect. Disheartening, but this doesn't affect the argument since it talks about something that viewers don't use to determine debate performance, and the argument is about whether it's good they use another metric. If the conclusion were about what metrics lead viewers to reach their conclusions, then this answer might be relevant.