Question

Read the excerpt.

Everybody needs a boost of energy at times, and caffeine is an easy way to wake up. Most people in the United States immediately grab for coffee to get a jolt of caffeine. While caffeine in coffee can be a tasty way to energize, caffeine also has drawbacks to healthy living, such as digestive issues, high blood pressure, and rapid heart rate. A more health-conscious alternative is peppermint oil. Peppermint oil provides an energizing effect that can increase brain oxygen levels and increase performance. Trying to increase focus by drinking coffee instead of using peppermint oil guarantees future health complications.

Which choice best explains the effect of the author’s use of faulty reasoning?

The false dilemma diminishes the author’s credibility by failing to present options other than coffee and peppermint oil.
The audience is likely to dismiss the claims because the author criticizes the use of coffee, which most people enjoy.
The argument distracts from the strong evidence for peppermint oil because it compares it to coffee, which is too dissimilar.
The non sequitur invites criticism because it connects coffee’s and peppermint oil’s effects without showing an actual correlation.

Answer 1

The first choice. The author sets up a false dilemma (coffee vs. peppermint oil) and thus weakens credibility by ignoring other alternatives and overstating the certainty of the claim.