BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
Vote for Target Test Prep, Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
NEWSWEEK READERS’ CHOICE 2026

BIG NEWS! Target Test Prep has been nominated, and they’d love your vote!

TTP has worked incredibly hard to build the best test prep experience possible, and winning Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Test Prep would mean a lot to them. If TTP has helped you, they’d be incredibly grateful for your vote. You can vote once each day through September 9.

Vote for TTP
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 559 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Gum diseases and heart diseases

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 89
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:06 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 14 times
GMAT Score:770
by prepgmat09 » Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:04 am
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

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the claim that periodontal disease is a cause of Coronary Artery disease?

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.

Please support answers with explanations. OA later.
Last edited by prepgmat09 on Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Critical Reasoning |
User avatar
Site Admin
Posts: 2567
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:05 amFollowed by: 550 members
Thanked: 712 times
GMAT Score:770

by DanaJ » Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:12 am
What's the question here? Weaken or strengthen or something else?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 89
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:06 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 14 times
GMAT Score:770

by prepgmat09 » Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:39 am
DanaJ wrote:What's the question here? Weaken or strengthen or something else?
So sorry! Thanks for informing, DanaJ
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1560
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:38 amFollowed by: 5 members
Thanked: 137 times

by thephoenix » Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:47 am
IMO E
its atypical cause and effect type Cr
to weaken such a cr , one way is to show that the relationship is reverse
E does the same thing claiming that heart disease causes periodonatl
Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2010 10:12 am
Thanked: 3 times

by neerajbansal » Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:22 am
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

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the claim that periodontal disease is a cause of Coronary Artery disease?

Premise : Frequency of congruent occurance of Gum and Heart in a same patient...
Conclusion of this Arguement : Peridontal Disease --> variety of CV probs( CAD)

So we have to weaken this..
We attack the conclusion...show that the cause and effect does not occur...or show that the relation is opposite ( i.e. CV probs cause gum disease.


A. Bacteria present in infected gums can become mobile and enter the bloodstream, causing arterial plaque to accumulate.
Strengthens

B. People who brush and floss their teeth regularly are also more likely to exercise and eat a healthy diet.
Great..but i am searching for an answer, not for people who floss...( may be a little strengthen..

C. Infected gums are more prone to bleeding, which allows bacteria to escape the mouth and irritate arteries.
Strengthens

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.
Processed food a'int that bad...Processed also means that the food is clean..so it may actually help the heart...well that's arguable...

E. Patients with no history of heart disease are much less likely to have periodontal disease than patients who have had a cardiac transplant.
Reverses the cause and effect....IMO the best answer :) Whats the OA....
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1261
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:46 am
Thanked: 27 times
GMAT Score:570

by reply2spg » Sat Jul 24, 2010 7:22 pm
What is the meaning of C???
Sudhanshu
(have lot of things to learn from all of you)
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 89
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:06 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 14 times
GMAT Score:770

by prepgmat09 » Mon Jul 26, 2010 1:45 am
Any more takes on this one? I got this wrong as well, and for reasnoning similar to the one already sighted in some replies.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2010 10:47 am

by kenfrapin » Mon Jul 26, 2010 7:51 am
My answer would be D.
As for E - Patients with no history of heart disease are much less likely to have periodontal disease than patients who have had a cardiac transplant.

I would have chosen this is instead of Cardiac Transplant, there was a clear mention of CAD. E only states heart diseased in general and refers to cardiac transplant, which is not in context of the Conclusion

As a result, D suits to weaken the argument the most given the scope of what we have to work with.

So, whats the OA???

KP
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 127
Joined: Mon May 11, 2009 10:04 am
Thanked: 5 times

by apex231 » Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:51 am
B looks good. This indicates that there is no relation between coronary artery disease and gum disease. It's a person's habit that leads to the occurrence of both the diseases.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 89
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:06 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 14 times
GMAT Score:770

by prepgmat09 » Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:39 pm
OA is B, for the reasoning cited by apex231.

However, my doubt is, aren't we making assumptions in B that brushing teeth regularly reduces the probability of having gum diseases and exercising and eating a healthy diet reduces the probability of having heart diseases?

Experts, please help..
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 55
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:10 am

by raisethebar » Wed Jul 28, 2010 5:03 am
I am also not comfortable with B. IMO it should be E
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 89
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:06 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 14 times
GMAT Score:770

by prepgmat09 » Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:46 am
prepgmat09 wrote:OA is B, for the reasoning cited by apex231.

However, my doubt is, aren't we making assumptions in B that brushing teeth regularly reduces the probability of having gum diseases and exercising and eating a healthy diet reduces the probability of having heart diseases?

Experts, please help..
Experts, please help...
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 357
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:31 pmFollowed by: 7 members
Thanked: 128 times

by grockit_andrea » Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:22 am
prepgmat09 wrote:
prepgmat09 wrote:OA is B, for the reasoning cited by apex231.

However, my doubt is, aren't we making assumptions in B that brushing teeth regularly reduces the probability of having gum diseases and exercising and eating a healthy diet reduces the probability of having heart diseases?

Experts, please help..
Experts, please help...
A. Bacteria present in infected gums can become mobile and enter the bloodstream, causing arterial plaque to accumulate.

This would actually strengthen the argument, not weaken it

B. People who brush and floss their teeth regularly are also more likely to exercise and eat a healthy diet.

This is the correct answer. It does require you to conclude that brushing and flossing reduces gum disease, and exercising and eating a heart-healthy diet reduces heart disease. For that to be spelled out here would make the answer too easy to identify. I understand your point, but I think you'll find that many correct answers actually require some kind of common knowledge that is assumed to be held by the reader.

C. Infected gums are more prone to bleeding, which allows bacteria to escape the mouth and irritate arteries.

Again, this strengthens the argument.

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.

This strengthens the argument, since it would explain one way that periodontal disease indirectly causes consumption of unhealthy foods, which would increase the occurrence of negative health effects.

E. Patients with no history of heart disease are much less likely to have periodontal disease than patients who have had a cardiac transplant.

This answer choice doesn't really accomplish anything. It basically just restates the evidence from the prompt: periodontal disease and cardiovascular problems often occur in the same patients. There's no indication here which would be cause and which would be effect. Further, "cardiac transplant" is too narrow; it doesn't address any cardiovascular problems that might not result in a cardiac transplant.

I hope this helps to clear up some of the confusion!
Andrea A.
Grockit Tutor
https://www.grockit.com
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 89
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:06 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 14 times
GMAT Score:770

by prepgmat09 » Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:01 am
grockit_andrea wrote:
E. Patients with no history of heart disease are much less likely to have periodontal disease than patients who have had a cardiac transplant.

This answer choice doesn't really accomplish anything. It basically just restates the evidence from the prompt: periodontal disease and cardiovascular problems often occur in the same patients. There's no indication here which would be cause and which would be effect. Further, "cardiac transplant" is too narrow; it doesn't address any cardiovascular problems that might not result in a cardiac transplant.

I hope this helps to clear up some of the confusion!
Andea, Thanks so much for the explanation.

In choice E, when the statement reads "Patients with no history of heart disease are much less likely to have periodontal disease", does this no imply that the Cause -> Effect relationship is "No history of heart disease" -> "Less likelihood of periodontal disease" ?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 357
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:31 pmFollowed by: 7 members
Thanked: 128 times

by grockit_andrea » Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:32 am
prepgmat09 wrote:
grockit_andrea wrote:
E. Patients with no history of heart disease are much less likely to have periodontal disease than patients who have had a cardiac transplant.

This answer choice doesn't really accomplish anything. It basically just restates the evidence from the prompt: periodontal disease and cardiovascular problems often occur in the same patients. There's no indication here which would be cause and which would be effect. Further, "cardiac transplant" is too narrow; it doesn't address any cardiovascular problems that might not result in a cardiac transplant.

I hope this helps to clear up some of the confusion!
Andea, Thanks so much for the explanation.

In choice E, when the statement reads "Patients with no history of heart disease are much less likely to have periodontal disease", does this no imply that the Cause -> Effect relationship is "No history of heart disease" -> "Less likelihood of periodontal disease" ?
No, it doesn't. All it establishes is correlation. Assuming that causation is implied is a classic argument mistake, and one that the answer choice is designed to produce (which is what makes this question challenging). If it had said "patients with no history of heart disease are much less likely to DEVELOP periodontal disease" or something along those lines, the causation would be somewhat better supported, but even then, an outside factor could be responsible for both (as in Choice B, where the overall health-conscious behavior of that group of people causes the correlation).
Andrea A.
Grockit Tutor
https://www.grockit.com
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1