Critical Reasoning

A recent study of college students shows that, contrary to predicted results, special nutritional planning does not positively affect students’ grades. Sixty students, half of whom were given a nutritionally balanced diet, had grades no higher than did those students who were not placed on the diet plan.

Which of the following, if true, is most useful in determining the accuracy of the study described above?


a) Performance of business executives was shown to improve drastically after major alterations were made in their diets.

b) Honors students, after altering their diets, maintained that they did not change their study habits.

c) Students who participated in various fitness regimens found that their grades improved appreciably after they altered their exercise habits.

d) High school students who previously had low grades found that after they altered their diets, their grades improved dramatically.

e) All of the college students who volunteered for the study were either in their first or second year of college.

can some one help me ans this. My ans was b, however, the OA is d

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Basically we have to determine the accuracy of the study. Was the study accurate or inaccurate; i.e. we are looking for something that either seriously weakens or strongly supports the results of the study.

B does not has as much effect as D does.

I would agree with Nidhs - B looks like the more appropriate answer.

D mentions 'high school students', which is outside the scope of the argument.

Can I ask the source of this question, because it is quite possible that OA is wrong.

I do not think D is right, I would rather choose E. Can anyone explain it?

sankruth wrote:I would agree with Nidhs - B looks like the more appropriate answer.

D mentions 'high school students', which is outside the scope of the argument.

Can I ask the source of this question, because it is quite possible that OA is wrong.

Sankruth, its mentioned in the question stem "contrary to predicted results". If the results of a specific class(college students) study can be predicted, it means that the results for a wide generic class(students) are well established.

Even if the above reasoning is not considered, we have to consider the impact of the options on the argument. Basically we have to ask ourselves "Which option will take the argument from a MAYBE to a definite YES or NO?"

If I consider B or E, I am still left with maybe the study is accurate or maybe not. But if we consider D we can decisively say NO to the study; i.e. the study is inaccurate...

simplyjat has given the right explaination. D is the correct option

One otherway to look at the problem is process of elimination.
choise b: does not say anything about the grades obtained by honor students after changing diet, so it provides no data for evaluation.

choice e: the topic is about special diet having some effect on grades.
choice e talks about the people who took part in the survey. wht difference does it make whether they were first year/second year or third year sudent . so this answer is nowhere the correct answer.


Only Choice D echoes what is talked about in the passage.

Thanks guys! Now I get the point.

B seems good.