GMAT Exam  >  GMAT Questions  >  Researchers took a group of teenagers who had... Start Learning for Free
Researchers took a group of teenagers who had never smoked and for one year tracked whether they took up smoking and how their mental health changed. Those who began smoking within a month of the study's start were four times as likely to be depressed at the study's end than those who did not begin smoking. Since nicotine in cigarettes changes brain chemistry, perhaps thereby affecting mood, it is likely that smoking contributes to depression in teenagers.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?
  • a)
    Participants who were depressed at the study's start were no more likely to be smokers at the study's end than those who were not depressed.
  • b)
    Participants who began smoking within a month of the study's start were no more likely than those who began midway through to have quit smoking by the study's end.
  • c)
    Few, if any, of the participants in the study were friends or relatives of other participants.
  • d)
    Some participants entered and emerged from a period of depression within the year of the study.
  • e)
    The researchers did not track use of alcohol by the teenagers.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Researchers took a group of teenagers who had never smoked and for one...
(A) Participants who were depressed at the study's start were no more likely to be smokers at the study's end than those who were not depressed.
This option does not provide additional support for the argument. It suggests that depression at the study's start did not affect smoking behavior, but it does not directly strengthen the link between smoking and depression.
(B) Participants who began smoking within a month of the study's start were no more likely than those who began midway through to have quit smoking by the study's end.
This option is not directly relevant to the argument. It focuses on the quitting behavior of those who began smoking at different times, rather than strengthening the link between smoking and depression.
(C) Few, if any, of the participants in the study were friends or relatives of other participants.
This option is not relevant to the argument. The relationship between participants in the study does not have a direct impact on the link between smoking and depression.
(D) Some participants entered and emerged from a period of depression within the year of the study.
This option weakens the argument rather than strengthening it. If some participants entered and emerged from depression within the study period, it suggests that depression may not be solely caused by smoking but could have other contributing factors. Therefore, this option does not support the argument.
(E) The researchers did not track use of alcohol by the teenagers.
This option does not directly strengthen the argument regarding the link between smoking and depression. It introduces a new factor (alcohol use) that is not directly related to the impact of smoking on depression.
Based on the analysis, none of the options provided directly strengthen the argument. However, the most relevant option is:
(A) Participants who were depressed at the study's start were no more likely to be smokers at the study's end than those who were not depressed.
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.
Explore Courses for GMAT exam

Similar GMAT Doubts

An Australian group named Action Council on Smoking and Health (ACSH) has recently lobbied to make warnings on cigarette packets more graphic. The council proposed that striking visual photos of diseased organs should be put on at least 50% of outside packaging, in conjunction with health warnings outlining smoking hazards enumerated in a separate leaflet placed inside the cigarette packet. The ACSH claim that bland and ineffectual warnings like "Smoking is a health hazard" currently found on cigarette packets are not nearly sufficient. Substituting those inadequate admonitions with explicit photos will provide a powerful visual stimulus to help smokers relinquish their habit. The current cautions on cigarette packets have little or no impact on smokers who have grown immune to the warnings that focus on abstract tobacco related risks and illnesses from which smokers can easily disassociate themselves. The proposed new tactics would concentrate on the perspective of the individual smoker through a demonstration of what is occurring in his body each time he reaches for a cigarette, rather than a generic cautionary word of advice.The ACSH cited the results of recent studies conducted by psychologists at McKean University confirming that evidence related to ones own experience is more effective at influencing future behavior than a presentation of facts and figures. An further rationale for the addition of pictures to cigarette packages is the finding that smokers handle their packets 20-30 times a day, on average, thus, if graphic pictures on cigarette packets were introduced, smoker would have 20-30 chances to face the harsh reality of what damage they are doing to themselves each time they light up. Even more essential than the pictures on the outside label, ACSH strongly advocate including warnings and helpful information in a leaflet inserted into the packet of cigarettes. Even an analgesic, ACSH adds, found in every bathroom cabinet has all possible side effects enumerated in the insert. How much more imperative is it then when the substance in question is tobacco, a dried weed that contains highly noxious nicotine that society still accepts even though it kills one of every two of its users. Fundamentally, what is at stake here is consumer rights. Smokers should know what substances they are inhaling, and what damage they are inflicting to their bodies, though surprisingly, even today, many do not. For this reason alone, the recommendation for more graphic pictures and warnings on cigarette packets, which many seem excessive, is being seriously considered.Q. Which of the following, if true, would be most useful in supporting the claims made by the ACSH?

An Australian group named Action Council on Smoking and Health (ACSH) has recently lobbied to make warnings on cigarette packets more graphic. The council proposed that striking visual photos of diseased organs should be put on at least 50% of outside packaging, in conjunction with health warnings outlining smoking hazards enumerated in a separate leaflet placed inside the cigarette packet. The ACSH claim that bland and ineffectual warnings like "Smoking is a health hazard" currently found on cigarette packets are not nearly sufficient. Substituting those inadequate admonitions with explicit photos will provide a powerful visual stimulus to help smokers relinquish their habit. The current cautions on cigarette packets have little or no impact on smokers who have grown immune to the warnings that focus on abstract tobacco related risks and illnesses from which smokers can easily disassociate themselves. The proposed new tactics would concentrate on the perspective of the individual smoker through a demonstration of what is occurring in his body each time he reaches for a cigarette, rather than a generic cautionary word of advice.The ACSH cited the results of recent studies conducted by psychologists at McKean University confirming that evidence related to ones own experience is more effective at influencing future behavior than a presentation of facts and figures. An further rationale for the addition of pictures to cigarette packages is the finding that smokers handle their packets 20-30 times a day, on average, thus, if graphic pictures on cigarette packets were introduced, smoker would have 20-30 chances to face the harsh reality of what damage they are doing to themselves each time they light up. Even more essential than the pictures on the outside label, ACSH strongly advocate including warnings and helpful information in a leaflet inserted into the packet of cigarettes. Even an analgesic, ACSH adds, found in every bathroom cabinet has all possible side effects enumerated in the insert. How much more imperative is it then when the substance in question is tobacco, a dried weed that contains highly noxious nicotine that society still accepts even though it kills one of every two of its users. Fundamentally, what is at stake here is consumer rights. Smokers should know what substances they are inhaling, and what damage they are inflicting to their bodies, though surprisingly, even today, many do not. For this reason alone, the recommendation for more graphic pictures and warnings on cigarette packets, which many seem excessive, is being seriously considered.Q. The passage does NOT state which of the following about smoking warnings.

An Australian group named Action Council on Smoking and Health (ACSH) has recently lobbied to make warnings on cigarette packets more graphic. The council proposed that striking visual photos of diseased organs should be put on at least 50% of outside packaging, in conjunction with health warnings outlining smoking hazards enumerated in a separate leaflet placed inside the cigarette packet. The ACSH claim that bland and ineffectual warnings like "Smoking is a health hazard" currently found on cigarette packets are not nearly sufficient. Substituting those inadequate admonitions with explicit photos will provide a powerful visual stimulus to help smokers relinquish their habit. The current cautions on cigarette packets have little or no impact on smokers who have grown immune to the warnings that focus on abstract tobacco related risks and illnesses from which smokers can easily disassociate themselves. The proposed new tactics would concentrate on the perspective of the individual smoker through a demonstration of what is occurring in his body each time he reaches for a cigarette, rather than a generic cautionary word of advice.The ACSH cited the results of recent studies conducted by psychologists at McKean University confirming that evidence related to ones own experience is more effective at influencing futurebehavior than a presentation of facts and figures. An further rationale for the addition of pictures to cigarette packages is the finding that smokers handle their packets 20-30 times a day, on average, thus, if graphic pictures on cigarette packets were introduced, smoker would have 20-30 chances to face the harsh reality of what damage they are doing to themselves each time they light up. Even more essential than the pictures on the outside label, ACSH strongly advocate including warnings and helpful information in a leaflet inserted into the packet of cigarettes. Even an analgesic, ACSH adds, found in every bathroom cabinet has all possible side effects enumerated in the insert. How much more imperative is it then when the substance in question is tobacco, a dried weed that contains highly noxious nicotine that society still accepts even though it kills one of every two of its users. Fundamentally, what is at stake here is consumer rights. Smokers should know what substances they are inhaling, and what damage they are inflicting to their bodies, though surprisingly, even today, many do not. For this reason alone, the recommendation for more graphic pictures and warnings on cigarette packets, which many seem excessive, is being seriously considered.Q.It can be inferred from the passage

An Australian group named Action Council on Smoking and Health (ACSH) has recently lobbied to make warnings on cigarette packets more graphic. The council proposed that striking visual photos of diseased organs should be put on at least 50% of outside packaging, in conjunction with health warnings outlining smoking hazards enumerated in a separate leaflet placed inside the cigarette packet. The ACSH claim that bland and ineffectual warnings like "Smoking is a health hazard" currently found on cigarette packets are not nearly sufficient. Substituting those inadequate admonitions with explicit photos will provide a powerful visual stimulus to help smokers relinquish their habit. The current cautions on cigarette packets have little or no impact on smokers who have grown immune to the warnings that focus on abstract tobacco related risks and illnesses from which smokers can easily disassociate themselves. The proposed new tactics would concentrate on the perspective of the individual smoker through a demonstration of what is occurring in his body each time he reaches for a cigarette, rather than a generic cautionary word of advice.The ACSH cited the results of recent studies conducted by psychologists at McKean University confirming that evidence related to ones own experience is more effective at influencing future behavior than a presentation of facts and figures. An further rationale for the addition of pictures to cigarette packages is the finding that smokers handle their packets 20-30 times a day, on average, thus, if graphic pictures on cigarette packets were introduced, smoker would have 20-30 chances to face the harsh reality of what damage they are doing to themselves each time they light up. Even more essential than the pictures on the outside label, ACSH strongly advocate including warnings and helpful information in a leaflet inserted into the packet of cigarettes. Even an analgesic, ACSH adds, found in every bathroom cabinet has all possible side effects enumerated in the insert. How much more imperative is it then when the substance in question is tobacco, a dried weed that contains highly noxious nicotine that society still accepts even though it kills one of every two of its users. Fundamentally, what is at stake here is consumer rights. Smokers should know what substances they are inhaling, and what damage they are inflicting to their bodies, though surprisingly, even today, many do not. For this reason alone, the recommendation for more graphic pictures and warnings on cigarette packets, which many seem excessive, is being seriously considered.Q. The author cites studies conducted at McKean University to account for why

Top Courses for GMAT

Researchers took a group of teenagers who had never smoked and for one year tracked whether they took up smoking and how their mental health changed. Those who began smoking within a month of the studys start were four times as likely to be depressed at the studys end than those who did not begin smoking. Since nicotine in cigarettes changes brain chemistry, perhaps thereby affecting mood, it is likely that smoking contributes to depression in teenagers.Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?a)Participants who were depressed at the studys start were no more likely to be smokers at the studys end than those who were not depressed.b)Participants who began smoking within a month of the studys start were no more likely than those who began midway through to have quit smoking by the studys end.c)Few, if any, of the participants in the study were friends or relatives of other participants.d)Some participants entered and emerged from a period of depression within the year of the study.e)The researchers did not track use of alcohol by the teenagers.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
Researchers took a group of teenagers who had never smoked and for one year tracked whether they took up smoking and how their mental health changed. Those who began smoking within a month of the studys start were four times as likely to be depressed at the studys end than those who did not begin smoking. Since nicotine in cigarettes changes brain chemistry, perhaps thereby affecting mood, it is likely that smoking contributes to depression in teenagers.Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?a)Participants who were depressed at the studys start were no more likely to be smokers at the studys end than those who were not depressed.b)Participants who began smoking within a month of the studys start were no more likely than those who began midway through to have quit smoking by the studys end.c)Few, if any, of the participants in the study were friends or relatives of other participants.d)Some participants entered and emerged from a period of depression within the year of the study.e)The researchers did not track use of alcohol by the teenagers.Correct answer is option 'A'. 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 Researchers took a group of teenagers who had never smoked and for one year tracked whether they took up smoking and how their mental health changed. Those who began smoking within a month of the studys start were four times as likely to be depressed at the studys end than those who did not begin smoking. Since nicotine in cigarettes changes brain chemistry, perhaps thereby affecting mood, it is likely that smoking contributes to depression in teenagers.Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?a)Participants who were depressed at the studys start were no more likely to be smokers at the studys end than those who were not depressed.b)Participants who began smoking within a month of the studys start were no more likely than those who began midway through to have quit smoking by the studys end.c)Few, if any, of the participants in the study were friends or relatives of other participants.d)Some participants entered and emerged from a period of depression within the year of the study.e)The researchers did not track use of alcohol by the teenagers.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Researchers took a group of teenagers who had never smoked and for one year tracked whether they took up smoking and how their mental health changed. Those who began smoking within a month of the studys start were four times as likely to be depressed at the studys end than those who did not begin smoking. Since nicotine in cigarettes changes brain chemistry, perhaps thereby affecting mood, it is likely that smoking contributes to depression in teenagers.Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?a)Participants who were depressed at the studys start were no more likely to be smokers at the studys end than those who were not depressed.b)Participants who began smoking within a month of the studys start were no more likely than those who began midway through to have quit smoking by the studys end.c)Few, if any, of the participants in the study were friends or relatives of other participants.d)Some participants entered and emerged from a period of depression within the year of the study.e)The researchers did not track use of alcohol by the teenagers.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Researchers took a group of teenagers who had never smoked and for one year tracked whether they took up smoking and how their mental health changed. Those who began smoking within a month of the studys start were four times as likely to be depressed at the studys end than those who did not begin smoking. Since nicotine in cigarettes changes brain chemistry, perhaps thereby affecting mood, it is likely that smoking contributes to depression in teenagers.Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?a)Participants who were depressed at the studys start were no more likely to be smokers at the studys end than those who were not depressed.b)Participants who began smoking within a month of the studys start were no more likely than those who began midway through to have quit smoking by the studys end.c)Few, if any, of the participants in the study were friends or relatives of other participants.d)Some participants entered and emerged from a period of depression within the year of the study.e)The researchers did not track use of alcohol by the teenagers.Correct answer is option 'A'. 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 Researchers took a group of teenagers who had never smoked and for one year tracked whether they took up smoking and how their mental health changed. Those who began smoking within a month of the studys start were four times as likely to be depressed at the studys end than those who did not begin smoking. Since nicotine in cigarettes changes brain chemistry, perhaps thereby affecting mood, it is likely that smoking contributes to depression in teenagers.Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?a)Participants who were depressed at the studys start were no more likely to be smokers at the studys end than those who were not depressed.b)Participants who began smoking within a month of the studys start were no more likely than those who began midway through to have quit smoking by the studys end.c)Few, if any, of the participants in the study were friends or relatives of other participants.d)Some participants entered and emerged from a period of depression within the year of the study.e)The researchers did not track use of alcohol by the teenagers.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Researchers took a group of teenagers who had never smoked and for one year tracked whether they took up smoking and how their mental health changed. Those who began smoking within a month of the studys start were four times as likely to be depressed at the studys end than those who did not begin smoking. Since nicotine in cigarettes changes brain chemistry, perhaps thereby affecting mood, it is likely that smoking contributes to depression in teenagers.Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?a)Participants who were depressed at the studys start were no more likely to be smokers at the studys end than those who were not depressed.b)Participants who began smoking within a month of the studys start were no more likely than those who began midway through to have quit smoking by the studys end.c)Few, if any, of the participants in the study were friends or relatives of other participants.d)Some participants entered and emerged from a period of depression within the year of the study.e)The researchers did not track use of alcohol by the teenagers.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Researchers took a group of teenagers who had never smoked and for one year tracked whether they took up smoking and how their mental health changed. Those who began smoking within a month of the studys start were four times as likely to be depressed at the studys end than those who did not begin smoking. Since nicotine in cigarettes changes brain chemistry, perhaps thereby affecting mood, it is likely that smoking contributes to depression in teenagers.Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?a)Participants who were depressed at the studys start were no more likely to be smokers at the studys end than those who were not depressed.b)Participants who began smoking within a month of the studys start were no more likely than those who began midway through to have quit smoking by the studys end.c)Few, if any, of the participants in the study were friends or relatives of other participants.d)Some participants entered and emerged from a period of depression within the year of the study.e)The researchers did not track use of alcohol by the teenagers.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Researchers took a group of teenagers who had never smoked and for one year tracked whether they took up smoking and how their mental health changed. Those who began smoking within a month of the studys start were four times as likely to be depressed at the studys end than those who did not begin smoking. Since nicotine in cigarettes changes brain chemistry, perhaps thereby affecting mood, it is likely that smoking contributes to depression in teenagers.Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?a)Participants who were depressed at the studys start were no more likely to be smokers at the studys end than those who were not depressed.b)Participants who began smoking within a month of the studys start were no more likely than those who began midway through to have quit smoking by the studys end.c)Few, if any, of the participants in the study were friends or relatives of other participants.d)Some participants entered and emerged from a period of depression within the year of the study.e)The researchers did not track use of alcohol by the teenagers.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Researchers took a group of teenagers who had never smoked and for one year tracked whether they took up smoking and how their mental health changed. Those who began smoking within a month of the studys start were four times as likely to be depressed at the studys end than those who did not begin smoking. Since nicotine in cigarettes changes brain chemistry, perhaps thereby affecting mood, it is likely that smoking contributes to depression in teenagers.Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?a)Participants who were depressed at the studys start were no more likely to be smokers at the studys end than those who were not depressed.b)Participants who began smoking within a month of the studys start were no more likely than those who began midway through to have quit smoking by the studys end.c)Few, if any, of the participants in the study were friends or relatives of other participants.d)Some participants entered and emerged from a period of depression within the year of the study.e)The researchers did not track use of alcohol by the teenagers.Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice GMAT tests.
Explore Courses for GMAT exam

Top Courses for GMAT

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev