5

Set 2: Text Structure (Advanced)

Explanation

Answer: B

PASSAGE

Correlation does not imply causation. Ice cream sales and shark attacks both rise in summer, but one does not cause the other. Both are driven by a confounding variable: heat.

Which choice best describes the text's argumentative technique?

A. It explains the biology of sharks.
B. It uses a logical fallacy as a teaching example to explain a statistical principle.✓ Correct
C. It proves that ice cream attracts sharks.
D. It lists dangerous summer activities.

Detailed Answer Explanation

This question tests your understanding of how the text is organized. Principle: No causation. Example: Ice Cream/Sharks (Fallacy). Explanation: Confounding variable. Authors structure their writing purposefully to guide readers through their ideas. Identify the organizational pattern (cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution) and how each part contributes to the whole. Authors choose organizational patterns deliberately to enhance their message. Recognizing whether a text uses chronological order, cause-effect, compare-contrast, or problem-solution helps you understand the author's purpose and follow the logic.

Key Evidence:

• "does not imply causation"

• "confounding variable"

Why others are wrong: A (No biology.), C (Explicitly denies this.), D (Stats example.).