A is correct because it shows that the stimulus' conclusion is too narrow. The stimulus lays out multiple requirements for becoming the dean of computing, and then concludes that they have to pick a professor from the computer science department, thus making the unstated assumption that the only candidates who fit all the requirements are professors from the computer science department. Answer choice A weakens this argument by essentially stating that there are candidates who meet all the requirements listed in the stimulus but who are not professors, thus weakening the argument by showing that the argument's conclusion is too narrow since there are more eligible candidates other than professors from the computer science department.
This is definitely a tricky question, so I'd be happy to clarify my explanation or answer any questions you might have about this problem.
Comments
Hey! I'd be happy to try and explain. Are you having trouble with the stimulus, answer choice A, or both?
Hello,
A is correct because it shows that the stimulus' conclusion is too narrow. The stimulus lays out multiple requirements for becoming the dean of computing, and then concludes that they have to pick a professor from the computer science department, thus making the unstated assumption that the only candidates who fit all the requirements are professors from the computer science department. Answer choice A weakens this argument by essentially stating that there are candidates who meet all the requirements listed in the stimulus but who are not professors, thus weakening the argument by showing that the argument's conclusion is too narrow since there are more eligible candidates other than professors from the computer science department.
This is definitely a tricky question, so I'd be happy to clarify my explanation or answer any questions you might have about this problem.