Problem 17

Explanation

The statement in the text emphasizes two main points that make a boarding house a logical choice for young workers:

1. Short distance: This is considered to save on transport costs.
2. Cheap cost: This is cited as the main priority.

The core argument is a preference for boarding houses that are close (to save transport costs) and cheap.

Let's analyze the choices to find the one that weakens this argument:

• Workers choose the closest distance: Supports the argument (consistent with the short distance premise).
• Close distance and cheap cost increase interest: Supports the argument.
• Workers choose a distant boarding house to save costs: This statement weakens the argument that "short distance" is required to "save costs" or is the primary choice. If workers actually choose a distant place to save money (perhaps because the rent difference outweighs transport costs), then the premise that they must find a close place to save money is not absolute. This shows a trade-off where distance is sacrificed to meet the main priority (low cost).
• Workers choose cheap costs: Supports the argument (consistent with the main priority).
• The chosen boarding house is the closest: Supports the argument.

Therefore, the argument that weakens the statement is that young workers choose a distant boarding house for the reason of saving costs.