CR - Strengthen argument

Nice question. Mixed between D/E.

IMO E.

Psychologist: A surprising number of problems, both social and health-related, can be traced to stress, from heart disease to car accidents to street violence. My research indicates that nearly all Americans are under some degree of stress. It is my professional recommendation, therefore, that American companies allow their employees more time to pursue their hobbies and interests.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the psychologist's argument in favor of his recommendation?


(A) Americans vary widely in the amount of time their employers currently allow them to spend away from work. - out of scope

(B) The vast majority of Americans arrested for violent offenses last year were found to have unusually high stress levels. - again irrelevant, because does not talk about other stress related consequences given in the premise

(C) Unusually low stress levels have been detected among drivers with perfect safety records. - again limited in scope not adequately generalized to the conclusion & premise

(D) Studies show that having more hobbies and interests generally leads to a lower level of stress. - Correct because this directly ties to the assumption between the premise & conclusion. If studies did not indicate benefit of hobbies & interests to reduce stress then the recommendation would be flawed or unsupported.

(E) A majority of people experience increased stress levels when they lack significant free time - close but wrong because this does not strengthen the conclusion here. The connection here is between hobbies & interests -> stress and this is supported by the premise. If this was right, then we would have a new premise, but in CR we cannot change the premise for a strengthen question

So D is Correct.

what is the correct answer?? is it D?

(D) seems fine.


What is the OA?

OA is E

Kaustav,

D is wrong becoz it talks abt the hobbies and interests and nothing about the free time.
Conclusion states clearly that companies to allow employees more time to pursue "blah blah" The emphasis is on the free time. Hence E is the right one

kaustav98255 wrote:Psychologist: A surprising number of problems, both social and health-related, can be traced to stress, from heart disease to car accidents to street violence. My research indicates that nearly all Americans are under some degree of stress. It is my professional recommendation, therefore, that American companies allow their employees more time to pursue their hobbies and interests.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the psychologist's argument in favor of his recommendation?


(A) Americans vary widely in the amount of time their employers currently allow them to spend away from work. - out of scope

(B) The vast majority of Americans arrested for violent offenses last year were found to have unusually high stress levels. - again irrelevant, because does not talk about other stress related consequences given in the premise

(C) Unusually low stress levels have been detected among drivers with perfect safety records. - again limited in scope not adequately generalized to the conclusion & premise

(D) Studies show that having more hobbies and interests generally leads to a lower level of stress. - Correct because this directly ties to the assumption between the premise & conclusion. If studies did not indicate benefit of hobbies & interests to reduce stress then the recommendation would be flawed or unsupported.

(E) A majority of people experience increased stress levels when they lack significant free time - close but wrong because this does not strengthen the conclusion here. The connection here is between hobbies & interests -> stress and this is supported by the premise. If this was right, then we would have a new premise, but in CR we cannot change the premise for a strengthen question

So D is Correct.