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- Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:00 am
#74182
Complete Question Explanation
Strengthen—CE. The correct answer choice is (D)
This stimulus also contains causal reasoning—the conclusion takes a correlation and turns it into a
causal relationship:
G = higher concentration of galanin in the brain
CFF = crave fatty foods
C E
G 
CFF
As with all causal arguments, once you identify the causality, you must immediately look to the
question stem and then attack. In this instance, the author simply assumes that galanin is the cause.
But why can’t the fatty foods lead to higher concentrations of galanin?
Answer choice (A): If anything, this answer choice may hurt the argument by showing that
the cravings do not always lead to choosing fatty foods. But, since the author uses the phrase
“consistently chose” to describe the choices of the rats, an answer stating that rats did not
“invariably” choose fatty foods has no effect on the argument.
Answer choice (B): This is a Shell Game answer because the test makers try to get you to fall for an
answer that addresses the wrong issue. The argument discusses the concentration of galanin in the
brains of rats; no mention is made of the fat content of the brains of rats. This answer, which focuses
on the fat content in the brains of rats, therefore offers no support to the argument. Even though the
brain might not contain more fat, a rat could still consistently choose and eat foods with a higher fat
content.
Answer choice (C): The argument is that galanin in the brain causes rats to crave fatty foods. The
fact that galanin is in the food does not help that assertion and may actually hurt the argument.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer. The answer strengthens the argument by eliminating
the possibility that the stated causal relationship is reversed: if the rats had higher concentrations
of galanin prior to eating the fatty foods, then the fatty foods cannot be the cause of the higher
concentration of galanin. As discussed earlier in the chapter, this approach strengthens the argument
by making it more likely that the author had the original relationship correct.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice hurts the argument by suggesting that the causal relationship
in the conclusion is reversed. Remember that in Strengthen questions you can expect to see Opposite
answers, and this is one.
Strengthen—CE. The correct answer choice is (D)
This stimulus also contains causal reasoning—the conclusion takes a correlation and turns it into a
causal relationship:
G = higher concentration of galanin in the brain CFF = crave fatty foods C E G CFFAs with all causal arguments, once you identify the causality, you must immediately look to the
question stem and then attack. In this instance, the author simply assumes that galanin is the cause.
But why can’t the fatty foods lead to higher concentrations of galanin?
Answer choice (A): If anything, this answer choice may hurt the argument by showing that
the cravings do not always lead to choosing fatty foods. But, since the author uses the phrase
“consistently chose” to describe the choices of the rats, an answer stating that rats did not
“invariably” choose fatty foods has no effect on the argument.
Answer choice (B): This is a Shell Game answer because the test makers try to get you to fall for an
answer that addresses the wrong issue. The argument discusses the concentration of galanin in the
brains of rats; no mention is made of the fat content of the brains of rats. This answer, which focuses
on the fat content in the brains of rats, therefore offers no support to the argument. Even though the
brain might not contain more fat, a rat could still consistently choose and eat foods with a higher fat
content.
Answer choice (C): The argument is that galanin in the brain causes rats to crave fatty foods. The
fact that galanin is in the food does not help that assertion and may actually hurt the argument.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer. The answer strengthens the argument by eliminating
the possibility that the stated causal relationship is reversed: if the rats had higher concentrations
of galanin prior to eating the fatty foods, then the fatty foods cannot be the cause of the higher
concentration of galanin. As discussed earlier in the chapter, this approach strengthens the argument
by making it more likely that the author had the original relationship correct.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice hurts the argument by suggesting that the causal relationship
in the conclusion is reversed. Remember that in Strengthen questions you can expect to see Opposite
answers, and this is one.
