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Smoking is a known cause of certain serious health problems, including emphysema and lung cancer. Now, an additional concern can be added to the list of maladies caused by smoking. A recent study surveyed both smokers and nonsmokers, and found that smokers are significantly more anxious and nervous than nonsmokers.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument rests?
  • a)
    Anxiety and nervousness can lead to serious health problems.
  • b)
    Anxiety and nervousness do not make individuals more likely to start smoking.
  • c)
    Equivalent numbers of smokers and nonsmokers were surveyed for the study.
  • d)
    Smokers are aware of the various health problems attributed to smoking, including lung cancer and emphysema.
  • e)
    Smokers who had smoked a cigarette immediately before responding to the survey were more anxious and nervous than smokers who had not smoked for several hours.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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Most Upvoted Answer
Smoking is a known cause of certain serious health problems, including...
Assumption: Anxiety and nervousness do not make individuals more likely to start smoking.

Explanation:

The argument states that smokers are significantly more anxious and nervous than nonsmokers. In order for this argument to hold true, it must assume that anxiety and nervousness are not factors that contribute to individuals starting smoking.

If anxiety and nervousness did make individuals more likely to start smoking, then the fact that smokers are more anxious and nervous than nonsmokers could be explained by the individuals' decision to start smoking, rather than smoking causing the anxiety and nervousness.

The assumption is necessary because it helps establish a causal relationship between smoking and anxiety/nervousness. If anxiety and nervousness were a contributing factor to individuals starting smoking, then the study's findings that smokers are more anxious and nervous would not be sufficient evidence to conclude that smoking causes anxiety and nervousness.

Therefore, the assumption that anxiety and nervousness do not make individuals more likely to start smoking is necessary for the argument to hold true.
Community Answer
Smoking is a known cause of certain serious health problems, including...
The argument presented in the question states that smokers are significantly more anxious and nervous than nonsmokers. To support this argument, an assumption must be made. Let's analyze each answer choice to determine which one is the correct assumption.
(A) Anxiety and nervousness can lead to serious health problems.
This answer choice does not directly relate to the argument that smokers are more anxious and nervous than nonsmokers. While it is true that anxiety and nervousness can have negative effects on health, this statement does not provide a necessary assumption for the argument to hold.
(B) Anxiety and nervousness do not make individuals more likely to start smoking.
This answer choice is the correct assumption for the argument. The argument is based on the premise that smokers are more anxious and nervous than nonsmokers. If anxiety and nervousness made individuals more likely to start smoking, then the argument's conclusion would be weakened. By assuming that anxiety and nervousness do not increase the likelihood of starting smoking, it strengthens the argument's claim that smoking is the cause of increased anxiety and nervousness.
(C) Equivalent numbers of smokers and nonsmokers were surveyed for the study.
This answer choice introduces a new premise regarding the survey methodology, which is not necessary for the argument. The argument does not rely on the specific numbers of smokers and nonsmokers surveyed but instead focuses on the observed difference in anxiety and nervousness between the two groups.
(D) Smokers are aware of the various health problems attributed to smoking, including lung cancer and emphysema.
This answer choice introduces information about smokers' awareness of the health problems caused by smoking. However, this information is not necessary for the argument that smokers are more anxious and nervous than nonsmokers. The argument does not rely on smokers' awareness but rather on the observed difference in anxiety and nervousness between the two groups.
(E) Smokers who had smoked a cigarette immediately before responding to the survey were more anxious and nervous than smokers who had not smoked for several hours.
This answer choice introduces a specific condition regarding smoking immediately before responding to the survey. However, this condition is not necessary for the argument. The argument focuses on the overall difference in anxiety and nervousness between smokers and nonsmokers, not on the immediate effects of smoking before taking the survey.
In conclusion, the correct assumption on which the argument rests is (B) Anxiety and nervousness do not make individuals more likely to start smoking.
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mile Durkheim, a French sociologist who rose to prominence in the late 19thand early 20thcenturies, is credited with being one of the principal founders of modern sociology. When Durkheim began writing, sociology was not recognized as an independent field of study. As part of the campaign to change this scenario, he went to great lengths to separate sociology from all other disciplines, especially philosophy.Durkheims perspective differed from other sociologists of his era as his theories were founded on things external in nature such as social facts, as opposed to those internal in nature, such as the motivations and desires of individuals. As per him, social phenomena arise when a certain reality emerges from the behavior of interacting individuals, but this same reality cannot be explained in terms of the characteristics of individual agents. For instance, he could argue that social formations such as gangs, political parties and associations are comprised of individual members, but the macro outcome resulting from such organizations operates in a different level and produces results that would not occur on an individual level. He, therefore, believed that the society was far superior to any of its individual components and could hence exert a coercive power on individuals to lead them to acceptable levels of satisfaction. His idea was that happiness and wants are tied to each other. He said, To pursue a goal which is by definition unattainable is to condemn oneself to a state of perpetual unhappiness... To achieve any other result, the passions first must be limited. But since the individual has no way of limiting them, this must be done by some force exterior to him. This exterior force of course in his opinion was the society.Which of the following is stated in the passage?

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Smoking is a known cause of certain serious health problems, including emphysema and lung cancer. Now, an additional concern can be added to the list of maladies caused by smoking. A recent study surveyed both smokers and nonsmokers, and found that smokers are significantly more anxious and nervous than nonsmokers.Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument rests?a)Anxiety and nervousness can lead to serious health problems.b)Anxiety and nervousness do not make individuals more likely to start smoking.c)Equivalent numbers of smokers and nonsmokers were surveyed for the study.d)Smokers are aware of the various health problems attributed to smoking, including lung cancer and emphysema.e)Smokers who had smoked a cigarette immediately before responding to the survey were more anxious and nervous than smokers who had not smoked for several hours.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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Smoking is a known cause of certain serious health problems, including emphysema and lung cancer. Now, an additional concern can be added to the list of maladies caused by smoking. A recent study surveyed both smokers and nonsmokers, and found that smokers are significantly more anxious and nervous than nonsmokers.Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument rests?a)Anxiety and nervousness can lead to serious health problems.b)Anxiety and nervousness do not make individuals more likely to start smoking.c)Equivalent numbers of smokers and nonsmokers were surveyed for the study.d)Smokers are aware of the various health problems attributed to smoking, including lung cancer and emphysema.e)Smokers who had smoked a cigarette immediately before responding to the survey were more anxious and nervous than smokers who had not smoked for several hours.Correct answer is option 'B'. 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 Smoking is a known cause of certain serious health problems, including emphysema and lung cancer. Now, an additional concern can be added to the list of maladies caused by smoking. A recent study surveyed both smokers and nonsmokers, and found that smokers are significantly more anxious and nervous than nonsmokers.Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument rests?a)Anxiety and nervousness can lead to serious health problems.b)Anxiety and nervousness do not make individuals more likely to start smoking.c)Equivalent numbers of smokers and nonsmokers were surveyed for the study.d)Smokers are aware of the various health problems attributed to smoking, including lung cancer and emphysema.e)Smokers who had smoked a cigarette immediately before responding to the survey were more anxious and nervous than smokers who had not smoked for several hours.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Smoking is a known cause of certain serious health problems, including emphysema and lung cancer. Now, an additional concern can be added to the list of maladies caused by smoking. A recent study surveyed both smokers and nonsmokers, and found that smokers are significantly more anxious and nervous than nonsmokers.Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument rests?a)Anxiety and nervousness can lead to serious health problems.b)Anxiety and nervousness do not make individuals more likely to start smoking.c)Equivalent numbers of smokers and nonsmokers were surveyed for the study.d)Smokers are aware of the various health problems attributed to smoking, including lung cancer and emphysema.e)Smokers who had smoked a cigarette immediately before responding to the survey were more anxious and nervous than smokers who had not smoked for several hours.Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
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