#23 - Strengthen

[Administrator]

Question Line Reference

The correct answer choice is (A)

The justification for the correct answer can be found on:

(lines 49-53)

Answer choice (A) strengthens the argument by showing that an increased consumption of grape juice (which is thought to have similar properties to wine) causes a decrease in blood vessel wall thickness, which is a preventative action against premature heart disease.

[jcpolk1]

I don't understand how A is able to be classified as the most strengthening. I passed over A because of the following reason:

I know that wine comes from grapes and that it is similar in some respects and the passage states that large amount of grape juice is beneficial...but I find it to be a big jump to say that a large amount of grape juice having beneficial effects strengthens the claim that moderate wine consumption has health effects. Two different amounts(large and moderate) of two different liquids (grape juice and wine). There is also no comparison between the amount of grape juice that is considered a large amount, and what is a moderate amount, small amount ect.

To me it would be like saying that eating a large amount of potatoes is good for your eyesight, so that strengthens the claim that a moderate amount of vodka is good for your eyesight, because vodka is made from potatoes.


Can you please explain what I am missing that makes A correct?

[Dana D]

Hey Jcpolk,

You are correct that jumping from wine to grape juice alone would be a stretch. But here at line (50) we're already told that wine has 2 positive health effects: 1) it reduces the inner walls of blood vessels and 2) it reduces platelet adhesiveness. We're told that drinking large amounts of grape juice also reduces platelet adhesiveness. Answer choice (A) additionally tells us that large amounts of grape juice reduces the inner walls of blood vessels.

This is important (and the correct strengthening answer) because the author's hypothesis is that wine (because of the grape content) has health benefits other alcohol doesn't. If the health benefits from wine are really supposed to be due to the grapes, it would make sense that both of the health benefits of wine (#s 1 and 2 above) are also present in grapes, since that is the source.

So to use your example, this would actually be like saying vodka is really good for your eyesight because it increases vitamin K, and then citing the high levels of vitamin K in potatoes for the explanation of how vodka gets these health benefits - assuming that vodka is entirely made of potatoes the way wine is entirely made of grapes. (I also have no idea of vitamin K helps with eyes or is actually present in potatoes).

Hope that helps!