- Tue May 10, 2016 2:22 pm
#24307
Complete Question Explanation
Flaw in the Reasoning. The correct answer is choice (E)
The conclusion in the stimulus is that nonsmokers have their first heart attack eleven years later than people who smoke. This conclusion is based on the median ages collected from people who survived a first heart attack.
Answer choice (A): Knowing severity does not affect the argument or the conclusion about the critical onset numbers.
Answer choice (B): After-the-fact information about those suffering heart attacks has no bearing on onset of the first attack.
Answer choice (C): Again, we are concerned about the people who survived a first attack. We have no interest in those who suffered a second heart attack.
Answer choice (D): The stimulus is only concerned with the broad categories of smokers versus nonsmokers. The age at which smokers had their first cigarette has no impact.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. This directly calls into question the conclusion. The information use in the stimulus only contains those who survive a first attack, but the conclusion makes a sweeping generalization about onset age for all people. Excluding people who die from their first heart attack may significantly change these numbers. For example, imagine that nonsmokers who died of their first heart attack had a median age of forty-five and smokers who died of their first heart attack had a median age of sixty. This would significantly change the conclusion.
Flaw in the Reasoning. The correct answer is choice (E)
The conclusion in the stimulus is that nonsmokers have their first heart attack eleven years later than people who smoke. This conclusion is based on the median ages collected from people who survived a first heart attack.
Answer choice (A): Knowing severity does not affect the argument or the conclusion about the critical onset numbers.
Answer choice (B): After-the-fact information about those suffering heart attacks has no bearing on onset of the first attack.
Answer choice (C): Again, we are concerned about the people who survived a first attack. We have no interest in those who suffered a second heart attack.
Answer choice (D): The stimulus is only concerned with the broad categories of smokers versus nonsmokers. The age at which smokers had their first cigarette has no impact.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. This directly calls into question the conclusion. The information use in the stimulus only contains those who survive a first attack, but the conclusion makes a sweeping generalization about onset age for all people. Excluding people who die from their first heart attack may significantly change these numbers. For example, imagine that nonsmokers who died of their first heart attack had a median age of forty-five and smokers who died of their first heart attack had a median age of sixty. This would significantly change the conclusion.