A graph shows that ice-cream sales and sunburn cases rise together in summer. What is the most sensible interpretation?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. A third factor, hot weather, may explain both
- Step 1: Two things can rise together because of a common cause.
Answer
A third factor, hot weather, may explain both.
Why not the others: Eating ice cream directly causes sunburn in people: this confuses correlation with cause. Sunburn makes people go out and buy ice cream: this assumes a causal link without evidence. The graph must be wrong: the pattern can be real without a direct link.
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