Carmen is definitely not an ideal teacher. On an average almost one third of…
2025
Carmen is definitely not an ideal teacher. On an average almost one third of her students couldn't pass the tests. She should think of switching her career soon because her demonstrations clearly say that her teaching isn't good.
What statement, if true, most weakens the argument above?
- A.
This was Carmen's second time teaching a college class.
- B.
The class Carmen was teaching is a required class for all freshmen.
- C.
The students who failed the exam also had poor attendance.
- D.
The students who passed the exam attended an optional review session Carmen's teaching assistant held.
Attempted by 37 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
It will be -The students who failed the exam also had poor attendance.
Why this weakens the argument:
It offers a clear alternative explanation for the poor test results: students with poor attendance likely missed instruction and practice, which can cause failing scores regardless of teaching quality.
It highlights the critic's error of assuming correlation implies causation: a high failure rate need not prove bad teaching if student behavior (like attendance) can account for the outcome.
Because it directly explains the failures, this statement is a stronger rebuttal than facts that only pertain to passing students or to course context.
Brief comparison to the other options:
The fact that this was her second time teaching could explain poor results by inexperience and therefore tends to support the critic rather than weaken it.
That the class is required for freshmen is not a direct alternative cause of failure and is largely irrelevant to whether Carmen's teaching is poor.
The optional review by the teaching assistant could explain why some students passed, but it does not as directly account for the high failure rate as the poor-attendance explanation.
Overall, the poor-attendance statement provides the clearest alternative cause for the failures and therefore most effectively weakens the critic's claim that Carmen's teaching is the primary problem.