Advertisement: Coma Cola is the best-tasting cola on the market and we conducted a test using over 1000 cola consumers to prove it. Each consumer was given two identical cups filled with a carbonated beverage from the same fountain. One cup was filled with Coma Cola and the other was filled with unadulterated soda water. Ninety-nine percent of the consumers preferred the Coma Cola. So, Coma Cola is the best tasting cola available.

The advertisement’s reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it fails to consider whether ___________________

Students that drink green tea while studying have higher test scores than those that drink soda while studying. Tea manufacturers emphasize that students who reported drinking green tea while preparing for a test achieved consistently higher test scores than those students who reported drinking soda while preparing for the same test. If this claim is true, then if the students who drink soda switched to drinking green tea, their test scores will rise.

The reasoning in this argument is flawed because the argument

Computers have finally reached their maximum potential for processing information. For fifty years, computer processing capabilities have steadily improved each year. Although some years saw greater advancements than others, each year saw at least some progress. That pattern was broken last year when computer processing capabilities failed to improve at all.

The argument is most vulnerable to which of the following criticisms?

Meteorologist: The average temperature last winter was 30 degrees fahrenheit. That was the lowest average temperature for a winter in 20 years. The average temperature this winter will most likely be warmer than last winter's average temperature.

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to the criticism that it

The two opposing armies, Army 1 and Army 2, are the same in regards to size. Since certain diseases that have recently afflicted Army 1 can be attributed to its crowded conditions in its encampment, such diseases must also afflict Army 2.

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to the criticism that it:

Sports agent: College athletes should be paid for their efforts; otherwise, there is no incentive for them to stay in college rather than become professionals in their respective sports. After all, college sports are nearly as popular as professional sports nationwide, and billions of dollars are made annually by television stations, athletic conferences, and associations promoting the sports. Yet the student athletes themselves see none of the money as long as they remain students. The way to keep athletes in school is to begin paying them salaries commensurate with what they would receive as professionals.

The reasoning in the sports agent’s argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument

Cook: Often times when I cook, I find that I can become over-ambitious and prepare multiple dishes at once. As a result, I don’t always pay enough attention to everything that I am preparing and have a tendency to overcook some of my creations. I have heard about a new type of cookware that is designed to prevent overcooking, and am thinking of investing in it so that I can prepare better food.

The cook’s reasoning is flawed because he is:

Therapists who treat patients for long periods of time develop attachments to the patients. Once such attachments are formed, they are unable to take an objective view of the patients’ symptoms, leading to possible bias and inaccuracy in their diagnoses and treatment. Therefore, to improve the quality of their treatment, patients should switch therapists every three to six months.

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument fails to consider the possibility that

Tad and Lilly play together in kindergarten every day. Both children have symptoms of an illness. Tad definitely does not have an illness. Lilly’s illness symptoms are similar to Tad’s symptoms. Since Tad does not have an illness, Lilly does not have an illness.

The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument:

Russell: Not all high-carbohydrate diets are unhealthy. Several conclusive studies have shown that people on high-carbohydrate diets can obtain a full complement of healthy foods.

Steven: You are wrong to assert that high-carbohydrate diets cannot be unhealthy. Eating a lot of carbohydrates can prevent people from consuming nutritious vegetables and fruits. Also, people whose diets are heavy in carbohydrates tend to engage in risky behavior that reduce their standards of living.

Steven’s response to Russell is most vulnerable to the criticism that his reply