A claims 'X causes Y' because both rose. Best counter?
AConfounding variable Z drove both.
BY often falls anyway.
CX is rare.
DY rose earlier.
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Confounding variable Z drove both.
1. Common cause defeats direct causation.
_Source: 501-GMAT-Questions Ch 2 Critical Reasoning_
Related questions
Sales rep: 'Customers prefer X.' Weakens it most:Add to weaken: 'Vitamin C prevents colds.'Newspaper sales fell 30%. Editor concludes ads must rise. Weaken?A factory cut waste 20%. Profits grew the same year. Therefore the cut caused the profit. A study finds that towns near coal mines have higher rates of respiratory illness. Which oA trial production run using a new process showed a 15% cost reduction. Managers concluded