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Citing the frequency

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happymanocha Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
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Citing the frequency Post Tue Mar 13, 2012 3:26 pm
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    Citing the frequency with which gum disease and heart disease occur in the same patients, many dentists believe that periodontal disease is a cause of a variety of cardiovascular problems, including Coronary Artery Disease.

    Question : Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the claim that periodontal disease is a cause of Coronary Artery disease?
    Choices
    A - Bacteria present in infected gums can become mobile and enter the bloodstream, causing arterial plaque to accumulate.
    B - People who brush and floss their teeth regularly are also more likely to exercise and eat a healthy diet.
    C - Infected gums are more prone to bleeding, which allows bacteria to escape the mouth and irritate arteries.
    D - People who experience loss of teeth due to periodontal disease usually cut back on many foods that are harder to chew, such as lean meats and vegetables, and increase their consumption of processed foods like pudding and ice cream.
    E - Patients with no history of heart disease are much less likely to have periodontal disease than patients who have had a cardiac transplant.

    OA: B

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    vikram4689 GMAT Titan
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    Post Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:08 pm

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    Post Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:43 am
    We have to weaken - Periodontal disease is a cause of Coronary Artery disease
    B - People who brush and floss their teeth regularly are also more likely to exercise and eat a healthy diet.


    Option B implies that People who DO NOT brush and floss their teeth regularly are also LESS likely to exercise and eat a healthy diet. These people will have Periodontal disease.

    It gives another reason Coronary Artery disease for people with Periodontal disease i.e. less exercise and less healthy diet and weakens the conclusion.

    The answer is B.

    happymanocha Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
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    Post Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:54 pm
    agarwalmanoj2000,

    Doesn't it assume that people who eat and exercise regularly are less prone to heart disease?

    Similarly in D, If we assume that avoiding foods such as lean meats helps for CAD(Coronary Artery Disease) . This option also weakens the claim.

    Post Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:38 pm
    Happymanocha,

    It is OK to make REASONABLE assumptions or bring outside information for strengthening/ weakening question, so we can assume here that people who eat and exercise regularly are less prone to heart disease based on the given information.

    Yes in option D we can also assume that avoiding foods such as lean meats helps for CAD(Coronary Artery Disease), but this option does not weakens the claim. Option D explains how periodontal disease causes Coronary Artery disease. Thus option D does not weaken the argument, but strenthens the arguement.

    HTH.

    scholardream Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
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    Post Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:19 am
    Hi! Can you advice how can I improve my approach to solve the question:
    Premise: frequency oF gum disease -> heart disease
    Conclusion: periodontal disease -> Cardiovascular
    Weaken: Periondonal disease esp related to dentists is NOT the cause of CAD
    (A)It supports the conclusion, not weaken it -> eliminate
    (B)What! Brush & floss teeth regularly -> exercise & eat healthy -> better health. Somewhat strange as No gum disease leads to No CAD, right ? -> put as contender!
    (C) It supports the conclusion by telling that gum disease cause cardiovascular problem -> eliminate
    (D) Consumption of food like pudding & ice icream can lead to bad health ? So gum disease leads to CAD -> Support conclusion -> eliminate
    (E) Heart disease leads to periodontal disease ( in the reverted way to the Premises) -> out of scope

    So I end up at B because I can't find more reasonable answer. But I'm not convinced myself for the B.

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