After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked daily for at least three years and comparing the results of this study with the results of a study of 1024 individuals who had never smoked, a group of researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating.Q. Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the researchers conclusion?a)The addiction to smoking and the cravings this addiction engenders is often on the mind of habitual smokers.b)Some non-smokers with attention deficit disorder (ADD), which causes an inability to concentrate, display even less ability to concentrate than some smokers.c)A separate research study found that smokers and non-smokers exhibited statistically significant differences in their incarceration rates.d)After developing a severe addiction to smoking for fifteen years, the ability of many individuals to concentrate is decreased.e)A separate research study found that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders exhibited significantly higher rates of trying cigarettes and subsequently becoming addicted to smoking.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev

All Courses

Explore Courses UPSC Exam UPSC Test Series Free Notes EduRev Infinity

Open App

GMAT Exam > GMAT Questions > After studying a random sample of 1024 indivi...

Join the Discussion on the App

a)
The addiction to smoking and the cravings this addiction engenders is often on the mind of habitual smokers.
b)
Some non-smokers with attention deficit disorder (ADD), which causes an inability to concentrate, display even less ability to concentrate than some smokers.
c)
A separate research study found that smokers and non-smokers exhibited statistically significant differences in their incarceration rates.
d)
After developing a severe addiction to smoking for fifteen years, the ability of many individuals to concentrate is decreased.
e)
A separate research study found that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders exhibited significantly higher rates of trying cigarettes and subsequently becoming addicted to smoking.

Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?

FREE This question is part of

Test: Critical Reasoning- 2

Attempt Test

Attempt this Test

Verified Answer

After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked dail...

The researchers' conclusion is: "habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating"

The group of researchers confuses correlation with causation. In other words, the group concludes that a correlation between smoking and an inability to concentrate implies that smoking causes an inability to concentrate. Perhaps it is the other way around and an inability to concentrate causes individuals to become distracted and take up smoking. Evidence to support this counter theory would weaken the researchers' conclusion.

A. This answer strengthens (not weakens) the original argument as it provides an explanation for how habitual smoking increases difficulties in concentrating after becoming hooked.
B. The answer deals only with some ADD non-smokers and some smokers so it does not provide any solid evidence and justification to weaken or reject the original argument. Further, it is not logical to compare the concentration ability of individuals with an attention deficit condition to other individuals who do not have an attention deficit condition.
C. The incarceration rate is irrelevant in determining the relationship between concentration and smoking. Whether smokers are incarcerated at higher or lower rates does not enable us to strengthen or weaken the causal relationship between smoking and concentration proposed in the original argument.
D. This strengthens (not weakens) the original argument as it intensifies the causal relationship between smoking and subsequent difficulties concentrating.
E. This additional study pinpoints that individuals with preexisting (or already established) concentration difficulties subsequently became addicted to smoking. This pinpoints that the smoking could not have caused the attention and concentration difficulties (as these difficulties already existed prior to becoming addicted).

View all questions of this test

Most Upvoted Answer

After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked dail...

Understanding the Researchers' Conclusion
The researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating based on a comparison of smokers and non-smokers. However, this conclusion can be weakened by alternative explanations for the observed effects.
Why Option E Weakens the Conclusion
Option E states that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders are more likely to try cigarettes and become addicted. This is significant for several reasons:

Preexisting Conditions: If individuals who struggle with concentration are more inclined to start smoking, it raises the possibility that their difficulties with concentration are not solely caused by smoking but rather by their underlying conditions.
Reverse Causation: This suggests a reverse causation where the difficulty in concentrating initiates the smoking behavior, rather than smoking leading to concentration issues.
Confounding Variables: It introduces the idea of confounding variables—factors influencing both smoking behavior and concentration ability, undermining the claim that smoking is the sole cause of difficulties in concentration.
Implications for Causality: The conclusion that smoking causes concentration issues becomes less definitive if individuals' predispositions to concentration problems are taken into account.

Conclusion
Thus, Option E most severely weakens the conclusion drawn by the researchers by suggesting an alternative explanation that challenges the causal link between habitual smoking and concentration difficulties. This insight is crucial for accurately interpreting the relationship between smoking and cognitive abilities.

Answered by Talent Skill Learning · View profile

Attention GMAT Students!

To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed GMAT study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in GMAT.

GMAT Focus Edition Mock Test Series 2024

Quantitative for GMAT

Crash Course for GMAT

Data Insights for GMAT

View all answers Start learning for free

< Previous Question Next Question >

Explore Courses for GMAT exam

Similar GMAT Doubts

After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked daily for at least three years and comparing the results of this study with the results of a study of 1024 individuals who had never smoked, a group of researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating.Q. Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the researchers conclusion?

View answer

Directions: Read the Passage carefully and answer the question as follow.Caffeine, the stimulant in coffee, has been called“the most widely used psychoactive substance on Earth .”Synder, Daly and Bruns have recently proposed thatcaffeine affects behavior by countering the activity in(5) the human brain of a naturally occurring chemical calledadenosine. Adenosine normally depresses neuron firingin many areas of the brain. It apparently does this byinhibiting the release of neurotransmitters, chemicalsthat carry nerve impulses from one neuron to the next.(10) Like many other agents that affect neuron firing,adenosine must first bind to specific receptors onneuronal membranes. There are at least two classesof these receptors, which have been designated A1 andA2. Snyder et al propose that caffeine, which is struc-(15) turally similar to adenosine, is able to bind to both typesof receptors, which prevents adenosine from attachingthere and allows the neurons to fire more readily thanthey otherwise would.For many years, caffeine’s effects have been attri-(20) buted to its inhibition of the production of phosphodi-esterase, an enzyme that breaks down the chemicalcalled cyclic AMP.A number of neurotransmitters exerttheir effects by first increasing cyclic AMP concentra-tions in target neurons. Therefore, prolonged periods at(25) the elevated concentrations, as might be brought aboutby a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, could lead to a greateramount of neuron firing and, consequently, to behav-ioral stimulation. But Snyder et al point out that thecaffeine concentrations needed to inhibit the production(30) of phosphodiesterase in the brain are much higher thanthose that produce stimulation. Moreover, other com-pounds that block phosphodiesterase’s activity are notstimulants.To buttress their case that caffeine acts instead by pre-(35) venting adenosine binding, Snyder et al compared thestimulatory effects of a series of caffeine derivatives withtheir ability to dislodge adenosine from its receptors inthe brains of mice. “In general,” they reported, “theability of the compounds to compete at the receptors(40) correlates with their ability to stimulate locomotion inthe mouse; i.e., the higher their capacity to bind at thereceptors, the higher their ability to stimulate locomo-tion.” Theophylline, a close structural relative of caffeineand the major stimulant in tea, was one of the most(45) effective compounds in both regards.There were some apparent exceptions to the generalcorrelation observed between adenosine-receptor bindingand stimulation. One of these was a compound called3-isobuty1-1-methylxanthine(IBMX), which bound very(50) well but actually depressed mouse locomotion. Snyderet al suggest that this is not a major stumbling block totheir hypothesis. The problem is that the compound hasmixed effects in the brain, a not unusual occurrence withpsychoactive drugs. Even caffeine, which is generally(55) known only for its stimulatory effects, displays thisproperty, depressing mouse locomotion at very low concentrations and stimulating it at higher ones.Q.According so Snyder et al, caffeine differs from adenosine in that caffeine

View answer

Protein synthesis begins when the gene encoding a protein is activated. The gene’s sequence of nucleotides is transcribed into a molecule of messenger RNA (mRN

View answer

The increase in unemployment rates, coupled with significantly increased retail prices as wellas energy costs, are forcing many homeowners to look into alternative sources of fuel in orderto save money on winter heating.

View answer

Scientists have determined that the inner ear assists in awareness of body orientation,since people with disorders of the inner ear were found to have increaseddifficulties in maintaining balance.

View answer

Top Courses for GMATView all

GMAT Focus Edition Mock Test Series 2024

Quantitative for GMAT

Crash Course for GMAT

Data Insights for GMAT

100 RCs for GMAT

Top Courses for GMAT

View all

After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked daily for at least three years and comparing the results of this study with the results of a study of 1024 individuals who had never smoked, a group of researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating.Q. Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the researchers' conclusion?a)The addiction to smoking and the cravings this addiction engenders is often on the mind of habitual smokers.b)Some non-smokers with attention deficit disorder (ADD), which causes an inability to concentrate, display even less ability to concentrate than some smokers.c)A separate research study found that smokers and non-smokers exhibited statistically significant differences in their incarceration rates.d)After developing a severe addiction to smoking for fifteen years, the ability of many individuals to concentrate is decreased.e)A separate research study found that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders exhibited significantly higher rates of trying cigarettes and subsequently becoming addicted to smoking.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?

Share with a Friend

Answer this doubt

Question Description
After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked daily for at least three years and comparing the results of this study with the results of a study of 1024 individuals who had never smoked, a group of researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating.Q. Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the researchers' conclusion?a)The addiction to smoking and the cravings this addiction engenders is often on the mind of habitual smokers.b)Some non-smokers with attention deficit disorder (ADD), which causes an inability to concentrate, display even less ability to concentrate than some smokers.c)A separate research study found that smokers and non-smokers exhibited statistically significant differences in their incarceration rates.d)After developing a severe addiction to smoking for fifteen years, the ability of many individuals to concentrate is decreased.e)A separate research study found that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders exhibited significantly higher rates of trying cigarettes and subsequently becoming addicted to smoking.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer? for GMAT 2024 is part of GMAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus. Information about After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked daily for at least three years and comparing the results of this study with the results of a study of 1024 individuals who had never smoked, a group of researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating.Q. Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the researchers' conclusion?a)The addiction to smoking and the cravings this addiction engenders is often on the mind of habitual smokers.b)Some non-smokers with attention deficit disorder (ADD), which causes an inability to concentrate, display even less ability to concentrate than some smokers.c)A separate research study found that smokers and non-smokers exhibited statistically significant differences in their incarceration rates.d)After developing a severe addiction to smoking for fifteen years, the ability of many individuals to concentrate is decreased.e)A separate research study found that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders exhibited significantly higher rates of trying cigarettes and subsequently becoming addicted to smoking.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked daily for at least three years and comparing the results of this study with the results of a study of 1024 individuals who had never smoked, a group of researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating.Q. Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the researchers' conclusion?a)The addiction to smoking and the cravings this addiction engenders is often on the mind of habitual smokers.b)Some non-smokers with attention deficit disorder (ADD), which causes an inability to concentrate, display even less ability to concentrate than some smokers.c)A separate research study found that smokers and non-smokers exhibited statistically significant differences in their incarceration rates.d)After developing a severe addiction to smoking for fifteen years, the ability of many individuals to concentrate is decreased.e)A separate research study found that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders exhibited significantly higher rates of trying cigarettes and subsequently becoming addicted to smoking.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?.

Solutions for After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked daily for at least three years and comparing the results of this study with the results of a study of 1024 individuals who had never smoked, a group of researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating.Q. Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the researchers' conclusion?a)The addiction to smoking and the cravings this addiction engenders is often on the mind of habitual smokers.b)Some non-smokers with attention deficit disorder (ADD), which causes an inability to concentrate, display even less ability to concentrate than some smokers.c)A separate research study found that smokers and non-smokers exhibited statistically significant differences in their incarceration rates.d)After developing a severe addiction to smoking for fifteen years, the ability of many individuals to concentrate is decreased.e)A separate research study found that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders exhibited significantly higher rates of trying cigarettes and subsequently becoming addicted to smoking.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for GMAT. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for GMAT Exam by signing up for free.

Here you can find the meaning of After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked daily for at least three years and comparing the results of this study with the results of a study of 1024 individuals who had never smoked, a group of researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating.Q. Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the researchers' conclusion?a)The addiction to smoking and the cravings this addiction engenders is often on the mind of habitual smokers.b)Some non-smokers with attention deficit disorder (ADD), which causes an inability to concentrate, display even less ability to concentrate than some smokers.c)A separate research study found that smokers and non-smokers exhibited statistically significant differences in their incarceration rates.d)After developing a severe addiction to smoking for fifteen years, the ability of many individuals to concentrate is decreased.e)A separate research study found that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders exhibited significantly higher rates of trying cigarettes and subsequently becoming addicted to smoking.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked daily for at least three years and comparing the results of this study with the results of a study of 1024 individuals who had never smoked, a group of researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating.Q. Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the researchers' conclusion?a)The addiction to smoking and the cravings this addiction engenders is often on the mind of habitual smokers.b)Some non-smokers with attention deficit disorder (ADD), which causes an inability to concentrate, display even less ability to concentrate than some smokers.c)A separate research study found that smokers and non-smokers exhibited statistically significant differences in their incarceration rates.d)After developing a severe addiction to smoking for fifteen years, the ability of many individuals to concentrate is decreased.e)A separate research study found that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders exhibited significantly higher rates of trying cigarettes and subsequently becoming addicted to smoking.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked daily for at least three years and comparing the results of this study with the results of a study of 1024 individuals who had never smoked, a group of researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating.Q. Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the researchers' conclusion?a)The addiction to smoking and the cravings this addiction engenders is often on the mind of habitual smokers.b)Some non-smokers with attention deficit disorder (ADD), which causes an inability to concentrate, display even less ability to concentrate than some smokers.c)A separate research study found that smokers and non-smokers exhibited statistically significant differences in their incarceration rates.d)After developing a severe addiction to smoking for fifteen years, the ability of many individuals to concentrate is decreased.e)A separate research study found that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders exhibited significantly higher rates of trying cigarettes and subsequently becoming addicted to smoking.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked daily for at least three years and comparing the results of this study with the results of a study of 1024 individuals who had never smoked, a group of researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating.Q. Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the researchers' conclusion?a)The addiction to smoking and the cravings this addiction engenders is often on the mind of habitual smokers.b)Some non-smokers with attention deficit disorder (ADD), which causes an inability to concentrate, display even less ability to concentrate than some smokers.c)A separate research study found that smokers and non-smokers exhibited statistically significant differences in their incarceration rates.d)After developing a severe addiction to smoking for fifteen years, the ability of many individuals to concentrate is decreased.e)A separate research study found that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders exhibited significantly higher rates of trying cigarettes and subsequently becoming addicted to smoking.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice After studying a random sample of 1024 individuals who had smoked daily for at least three years and comparing the results of this study with the results of a study of 1024 individuals who had never smoked, a group of researchers concluded that habitual smoking causes increased difficulties in concentrating.Q. Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens the researchers' conclusion?a)The addiction to smoking and the cravings this addiction engenders is often on the mind of habitual smokers.b)Some non-smokers with attention deficit disorder (ADD), which causes an inability to concentrate, display even less ability to concentrate than some smokers.c)A separate research study found that smokers and non-smokers exhibited statistically significant differences in their incarceration rates.d)After developing a severe addiction to smoking for fifteen years, the ability of many individuals to concentrate is decreased.e)A separate research study found that individuals with preexisting attention and concentration disorders exhibited significantly higher rates of trying cigarettes and subsequently becoming addicted to smoking.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice GMAT tests.

Explore Courses for GMAT exam