Jamboree Question of the Day - Day 12, Nov 19th 2010

Wide dissemination of wireless networks in cities is a practical way to meet the needs of city households, schools and businesses. Rural communities have found that wireless networks are both more reliable and cheaper than land-based networks.

Which of the following would most likely be cited by a supporter of the argument?

(A) Urban areas do not pose additional problems for the effective operation of wireless networks.

(B) Wireless networks work far better where population density is low.

(C) Iceland, a very rural country, successfully uses wireless networks.

(D) The expenses of wireless transmission in areas with large buildings is much higher.

(E) Poor neighborhoods have less access to cable internet than do educators or businesses.

Solution (Posted on 20th):

The argument claims that wide dissemination of wireless access is now a practical way to meet urban needs, based on the evidence of its successful use in rural areas. The author then must assume that urban areas provide no additional problems for wireless use.

(A) CORRECT. This choice confirms an assumption of the argument and thus strengthens the conclusion.

(B) This choice weakens the argument because it damages the assumption that urban areas pose no extra problems for wireless use.

(C) This choice is irrelevant because it provides information about another rural area; however, the conclusion concerns urban areas.

(D) This choice weakens the argument because it damages the assumption that urban areas pose no extra problems for wireless use.

(E) This choice is an irrelevant distinction. The argument mentioned all three groups as in need of this service. The suggestion that one group needs it more than the others is irrelevant to the conclusion.