Three Incorrect Answer Traps

Some of the wrong answer types from the Must Be True chapter do not apply to
Weaken questions. For example, the New Information answer is usually wrong in a Must
Be True question, but not in a Weaken question because new information is
acceptable in the answer choices.
There are certain incorrect answer choices that appear frequently in Weaken
questions:
1. Opposite Answers. As discussed in the Must Be True question
chapter, these answers do the exact opposite of what is needed. In
this case, they strengthen the argument as opposed to weakening it.
Although you might think answers of this type are easy to avoid, they
can be very tricky. To analogize, have you ever gotten on a freeway
thinking you were going south when in fact you later discovered you
were going north? It is easy to make a mistake when you head in the
exact opposite direction. In the same way, Opposite answers lure the
test taker by presenting information that relates perfectly to the
argument, but just in the wrong manner.
2. Shell Game Answers. Like Opposite answers, the Shell Game is the
same as in the Must Be True discussion. Remember, a Shell Game
occurs when an idea or concept is raised in the stimulus and then a
very similar idea appears in the answer choice, but the idea is
changed just enough to be incorrect but still attractive. In Weaken
questions, the Shell Game is usually used to attack a conclusion that
is similar to, but slightly different from, the one presented in the
stimulus. Later in this chapter you will see some excellent examples
of this answer type.
3. Out of Scope Answers. These answers simply miss the point of the
argument and raise issues that are either not related to the argument or
tangential to the argument.
While these three answer types are not the only ways an answer choice can be
attractively incorrect, they appear frequently enough that you should be familiar
with each form.