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- Sun May 10, 2015 11:00 pm
#35309
Complete Question Explanation
StrengthenX. The correct answer choice is (C)
The psychiatrist’s argument only addresses the two extremes, in terms of student spending on recreation. The author says that students at both ends of this spectrum have similar anxiety and depression scores. However, the author does not address the anxiety and depression scores of students in the middle of the range, and the conclusion is vulnerable to criticism that if the high spending reduce their spending to only a moderate level, we have no data to predict what their anxiety and depression scores may be. Since this a Strengthen—Except question, we can expect that the four incorrect answers will strengthen the argument by addressing this flaw. The correct answer, however, will either have no effect on the argument or will weaken it.
Answer choice (A): Pay close attention to the scope of the conclusion. The author is predicting what may happen to first-year students generally. Thus, evidence that the results at other universities mirror those at this university would help the argument by suggesting that the results are more likely generalizable. Answer choice (A) is thus incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This is an important issue to resolve when assessing the author’s conclusion. The author claims that the highest-spending students can “reduce that spending [on recreation] without increasing their anxiety or depression.” For this to be true, it must be the case that both significant and minor decreases in spending would not be associated with increased anxiety or depression. (B) strengthens this claim by showing that neither moderate nor low spenders have higher anxiety scores than high spenders.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. If (C) is true, reduced spending is strongly correlated with increased levels of anxiety and depression. This suggests that the best way to avoid increasing anxiety or depression is have an increased level of spending on recreation. Also, conclusions about 40- to 60-year-old adults may not be representative of first-year student at universities, as significant differences in lifestyle, disposable income, and recreation choices may make direct comparisons difficult. Since (C) will, at best, be irrelevant and, at worst, damage the conclusion, this answer does not strengthen.
Answer choice (D): Evidence that the screening instruments are accurate helps justify their use in drawing conclusions about first-year students. Answer choice (D) strengthens the argument.
Answer choice (E): Answer choice (E) is clearly helpful to the argument, as it demonstrates the psychiatrist’s recommendation has a practical basis, as well as a statistical rationale. Since the psychiatrist’s patients are also first-year students at the university, there is good reason that their experience is representative of the students referred to in the conclusion.
StrengthenX. The correct answer choice is (C)
The psychiatrist’s argument only addresses the two extremes, in terms of student spending on recreation. The author says that students at both ends of this spectrum have similar anxiety and depression scores. However, the author does not address the anxiety and depression scores of students in the middle of the range, and the conclusion is vulnerable to criticism that if the high spending reduce their spending to only a moderate level, we have no data to predict what their anxiety and depression scores may be. Since this a Strengthen—Except question, we can expect that the four incorrect answers will strengthen the argument by addressing this flaw. The correct answer, however, will either have no effect on the argument or will weaken it.
Answer choice (A): Pay close attention to the scope of the conclusion. The author is predicting what may happen to first-year students generally. Thus, evidence that the results at other universities mirror those at this university would help the argument by suggesting that the results are more likely generalizable. Answer choice (A) is thus incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This is an important issue to resolve when assessing the author’s conclusion. The author claims that the highest-spending students can “reduce that spending [on recreation] without increasing their anxiety or depression.” For this to be true, it must be the case that both significant and minor decreases in spending would not be associated with increased anxiety or depression. (B) strengthens this claim by showing that neither moderate nor low spenders have higher anxiety scores than high spenders.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. If (C) is true, reduced spending is strongly correlated with increased levels of anxiety and depression. This suggests that the best way to avoid increasing anxiety or depression is have an increased level of spending on recreation. Also, conclusions about 40- to 60-year-old adults may not be representative of first-year student at universities, as significant differences in lifestyle, disposable income, and recreation choices may make direct comparisons difficult. Since (C) will, at best, be irrelevant and, at worst, damage the conclusion, this answer does not strengthen.
Answer choice (D): Evidence that the screening instruments are accurate helps justify their use in drawing conclusions about first-year students. Answer choice (D) strengthens the argument.
Answer choice (E): Answer choice (E) is clearly helpful to the argument, as it demonstrates the psychiatrist’s recommendation has a practical basis, as well as a statistical rationale. Since the psychiatrist’s patients are also first-year students at the university, there is good reason that their experience is representative of the students referred to in the conclusion.
