Multiple choice

Since 1990, the Japanese professional baseball league has permitted the use of a special bat made from a combination of wood and plastic. In each subsequent year, the Japanese league has reported fewer instances of bat breakage than has U.S. major league baseball. Based solely on this information, American team owners have enthusiastically reported to the Commissioner of American Baseball that the plastic-wood bats are more durable and break less easily than American all-wood bats. The conclusion drawn by the team owners assumes each of the following EXCEPT that

  1. the Japanese baseball season is not comprised of significantly fewer baseball games

  2. in both the U.S. and Japanese baseball leagues, batters are equally strong and pitchers throw equally fast

  3. the plastic-wood bat differs from all wood bats only in its durability, and would not otherwise significantly alter the game of baseball

  4. the reported instances of bat breakage in both the U.S. and Japanese baseball leagues accurately reflect the true ratio of Japanese-to-U.S. bat breakage

  5. since the Japanese league has permitted the use of the new bat, it has been used by a significant number of batters
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C Correct answer
Explanation

(3) The Team Owners' CONCLUSION: The combination bats used in Japan are more durable than the all-wood bats used in America.THEIR EVIDENCE: For several years, Japanese baseball players have been allowed to use bats made of a combination of wood and plastic. Each season, there have been fewer reported instances of bats breaking in Japan than in America. The owners are generally assuming that the bats' composition, and not something else, accounts for the reduced breakage in Japan. Again we see cause and effect.(1) is an inherent assumption since fewer games will mean lesser usage. To qulify for acceptance, the modified bat has to last at least as long as the American season.  

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