Each of these relationships reflects a correlation. Which relationship most likely reflects correlation but not causation? Choices: (A) For competitive swimmers, swimming in longer races is associated with making more turns. (B) For competitive divers, somersaulting in the air more often is associated with lifting weights more often. (C) For competitive surfers, doing more surfing tricks is associated with spending more time on a surfboard.

Question

Each of these relationships reflects a correlation. Which relationship most likely reflects correlation but not causation?   Choices: (A) For competitive swimmers, swimming in longer races is associated with making more turns.  (B) For competitive divers, somersaulting in the air more often is associated with lifting weights more often.  (C) For competitive surfers, doing more surfing tricks is associated with spending more time on a surfboard.

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Swimming in Longer Races: Analyze the relationship of option (A): Does swimming in longer races cause swimmers to make more turns? The answer is Yes, because the number of turns is directly related to the length of the pool and the distance of the race. Longer races typically require more laps in a pool, which naturally leads to more turns. This is a direct causal relationship.Somersaulting and Weight Lifting: Analyze the relationship of option (B): Does somersaulting in the air more often cause competitive divers to lift weights more often? The answer is not necessarily, as the relationship between somersaulting and weight lifting is not directly causal. Weight lifting could be part of a diver's training to improve overall strength and performance, which might correlate with the ability to perform somersaults, but one does not directly cause the other.Surfing Tricks and Time on Board: Analyze the relationship of option (C): Does doing more surfing tricks cause competitive surfers to spend more time on a surfboard? The answer is not necessarily, as spending more time on a surfboard may allow for more practice and thus the ability to perform more tricks, but it is not a direct cause. Surfers may spend more time on their boards for various reasons, such as enjoyment or training, which could correlate with performing more tricks, but the time spent is not a direct cause of the tricks themselves.Correlation vs Causation: Finally, select the option that most likely reflects correlation but not causation. The answer is option (B) 'For competitive divers, somersaulting in the air more often is associated with lifting weights more often.' This relationship is likely to be correlated because both activities are part of a diver's training regimen, but lifting weights does not directly cause an increase in somersaulting.

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