Critical Reasoning

Coffee and tea contain methylxanthines, which cause
temporary increases in the natural production of
vasopressin, a hormone produced by the pituitary
gland. Vasopressin causes clumping of blood cells, and
the clumping is more pronounced in women than in
men. This is probably the explanation of the fact that
women face as much as a tenfold higher risk than men
do of complications following angioplasty, a technique
used to clear clogged arteries.
Which one of the following statements is most strongly
supported by the information above?
(A) Men, but not women, should be given
methylxanthines prior to undergoing
angioplasty.
(B) In spite of the risks, angioplasty is the only
effective treatment for clogged arteries.
(C) Women probably drink more coffee and tea, on
average, than do men.
(D) Prior to undergoing angioplasty, women should
avoid coffee and tea.
(E) Angioplasty should not be used to treat clogged
arteries.

imo c

OA is D...

sob sob LSAT CR,s are tough

Yes they are! ............I concur!

I too chose C as this seems to be the nearest one.....

Any explanations?

Not sure why D is correct. Need some expert comment that what is wrong with C?

ssgmatter wrote:Coffee and tea contain methylxanthines, which cause
temporary increases in the natural production of
vasopressin, a hormone produced by the pituitary
gland. Vasopressin causes clumping of blood cells, and
the clumping is more pronounced in women than in
men. This is probably the explanation of the fact that
women face as much as a tenfold higher risk than men
do of complications following angioplasty, a technique
used to clear clogged arteries.
Which one of the following statements is most strongly
supported by the information above?
(A) Men, but not women, should be given
methylxanthines prior to undergoing
angioplasty.
(B) In spite of the risks, angioplasty is the only
effective treatment for clogged arteries.
(C) Women probably drink more coffee and tea, on
average, than do men.
(D) Prior to undergoing angioplasty, women should
avoid coffee and tea.
(E) Angioplasty should not be used to treat clogged
arteries.

ssgmatter wrote:Coffee and tea contain methylxanthines, which cause
temporary increases in the natural production of
vasopressin, a hormone produced by the pituitary
gland. Vasopressin causes clumping of blood cells, and
the clumping is more pronounced in women than in
men. This is probably the explanation of the fact that
women face as much as a tenfold higher risk than men
do of complications following angioplasty, a technique
used to clear clogged arteries.
Which one of the following statements is most strongly
supported by the information above?
(A) Men, but not women, should be given
methylxanthines prior to undergoing
angioplasty.
(B) In spite of the risks, angioplasty is the only
effective treatment for clogged arteries.
(C) Women probably drink more coffee and tea, on
average, than do men.
(D) Prior to undergoing angioplasty, women should
avoid coffee and tea.
(E) Angioplasty should not be used to treat clogged
arteries.

When we're asked to find and answer supported by the statements above, we have an inference question.

Here's the #1 rule for inference questions:

the correct answer MUST BE TRUE based on one or more of the statements above.

Let's look at C vs D.

(C) Women probably drink more coffee and tea, on average, than do men.

well, (C) is possible; but do we KNOW FOR SURE that it's true based on the evidence? Definitely not.

We know that coffee and tea contain an ingredient that leads to the production of V, and we know that V leads to a condition more prevalent in women than men. From this, there's no way that we can reliably conclude that women must drink more coffee and tea - there are many other potential explanations for why women have more clumpy blood cells than do men.

Here's an analogous argument:

The atmosphere of Venus contains an element that can cause cancer. More Americans suffer from cancer than do Canadians. Therefore, more Americans than Canadians have been to Venus.

Just because something is a potential cause of an effect, we cannot conclude that it is the actual cause of the effect.

(D), on the other hand, is fully supported by the argument.

We know that coffee and tea contain M, which leads to increased V, which leads to clumping.

We know that clumping leads to increased complications after an angioplasty.

Therefore, one (especially women, prone to complications) should avoid coffee and tea before an angioplasty.

I too chose C thought of D as extreme when compared to C fell for probably and thought should in the D is extreme..

It is D.
C is wrong because argument is saying that women are more sensitive for coffee/tea i.e. for the same amount of drink.
Nowhere he is supporting the fact that women drink more tea/coffee.

passage clearly gives that, t/c contains x causing clumping, resulting in to complicatinos in wmn...thus clearly women must avoid is strenghtened. drinking more tea coffe can be inference, but not strenghtened, clearly as psg mentions, x is more damaging in womn for same amt of t/c vs men