Question

People who live in warm, sunny climates are happier than those who don't.

Now consider how someone might argue against this. Which sentence presents the strongest and most reasonable counterclaim to the above claim?

A. If people were happier in sunnier, warmer climates, then few people would live in places with cloudy, rainy climates.
B. Many of the places ranked as the happiest in the world-like Denmark,Iceland, and Switzerland-do not have warm, sunny climates.
C. Even California and Hawaii, which have some of the best, sunniest climates,experience some amount of rainfall each year.

Answer 1

The strongest and most reasonable counterclaim to the claim that people who live in warm, sunny climates are happier than those who don't is that many of the happiest countries in the world do not have warm, sunny climates. The correct answer is B. Many of the places ranked as the happiest in the world-like Denmark, Iceland, and Switzerland-do not have warm, sunny climates.

Step-by-step explanation:

The strongest and most reasonable counterclaim to the claim that people who live in warm, sunny climates are happier than those who don't is option B: Many of the places ranked as the happiest in the world, like Denmark, Iceland, and Switzerland, do not have warm, sunny climates.

This counterclaim refutes the original claim by presenting evidence that contradicts it. It highlights the fact that happiness is not solely determined by climate, as there are countries with colder climates that rank among the happiest in the world.

For example, Denmark consistently ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world, despite its relatively cold climate. This suggests that factors other than weather, such as social support, income, and personal well-being, play a significant role in determining happiness.