Logical reasoning — Media consumption among urban school-goers: TV viewing increased and newspaper readership declined; decide which proposed response or study recommendation logically follows

Given data

• Statement: Urban prime-age school children have become avid and more regular TV viewers, even in households without a TV; consequently, there is an alarming decline in newspaper readership.
• Conclusions to test:
  • I: Methods to increase newspaper readership should be devised.
  • II: Send a team abroad to study TV’s impact on newspaper readership in other countries.

Concept/Approach

An observed decline suggests a remedial need directly tied to the problem. A foreign study is an additional, specific action not directly indicated by the statement.

Step-by-Step reasoning1) If readership is “alarmingly” down, it is logical to devise methods to reverse the trend ⇒ I follows.2) The statement does not imply that international benchmarking is necessary; it could be useful, but it is not a compelled inference ⇒ II does not follow.

Verification/Alternative

Local experiments, content redesign, or delivery innovations could address the issue without any overseas study, showing II is not required.

Common pitfalls

• Confusing a possible action with a logically necessary action.

Final AnswerOnly conclusion I follows.