11{2[3(11)35]}> Some politicians claim to support the environment in speeches they make around the country. However, to get to those speeches they ride in gas guzzling, pollution creating private planes. They therefore clearly don’t believe a word of what they say and are actually making the environmental problem worse.
Which one of the following, if true, would best weaken the argument above? (Points : 1)
Some of the politicians try to hide the fact that they travel by private plane to their speeches around the country.
Most people who hear the politicians’ speeches on the environment are unconvinced by their arguments.
A majority of voters surveyed agree that politicians sometimes make society’s problems worse.
Improvements to the environment brought about through the politicians’ public support of environmental regulations more than offset the damage done to the environment by the politicians’ private planes.
To weaken the argument presented, we need to find a statement that challenges the claim that the politicians' private plane travel significantly worsens the environmental problem. Let's analyze each statement:
1. Some of the politicians try to hide the fact that they travel by private plane to their speeches around the country.
This statement does not directly address the environmental impact of the politicians' travel. It may suggest that some politicians are conscious of public perception, but it does not weaken the argument.
2. Most people who hear the politicians’ speeches on the environment are unconvinced by their arguments.
This statement does not provide any information about the environmental impact of the politicians' private plane travel. It addresses the effectiveness of their speeches, but it does not weaken the argument.
3. A majority of voters surveyed agree that politicians sometimes make society’s problems worse.
This statement does not specifically address the environmental impact of the politicians' private plane travel. It indicates that voters believe politicians can make problems worse, but it does not directly challenge the claim made in the argument.
4. Improvements to the environment brought about through the politicians’ public support of environmental regulations more than offset the damage done to the environment by the politicians’ private planes.
This statement directly weakens the argument by suggesting that the positive impact of the politicians' support for environmental regulations outweighs the negative impact of their private plane travel. It indicates that their overall influence is more beneficial for the environment.
Therefore, option 4 is the best answer choice as it weakens the argument by suggesting that the politicians' support for environmental regulations offsets the damage caused by their private planes.