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Alternative Cause

GMAT glossary · Verbal Reasoning

Definition

A competing explanation that weakens a causal conclusion.

Alternative Cause in plain English

If an argument says X caused Y, ask what else could have produced Y. A credible rival explanation weakens the causal story because the observed result no longer points uniquely to X.

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Practice Alternative Cause

The primary purpose of the passage is to do which of the following?

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