chaitanya.mehrotra wrote:Studies of trauma victims suggest that shock brought on by violent or life-threatening situations causes damage to the hippocampi, structures in the brain that play a crucial role in learning and memory. Researchers found that in combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress symptoms, which include nightmares and vivid flashbacks, the hippocampi were eight percent smaller in volume than in combat veterans who suffered no such symptoms. The researchers concluded that the hippocampi had lost cell mass as a result of trauma.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the researchers' conclusion drawn above?
1 In another study, subjects who had experienced the death of a close relative were found to have no reduction in the volume of their hippocampi when compared to those whose close relatives were all still living.
2 In the study, the traumatized veterans were compared with other veterans of similar background, body size, and other characteristics that might have a bearing on brain size.
3 Some individuals are born with hippocampi whose volume is smaller than average, and this reduced volume makes them more susceptible to post¬traumatic stress symptoms.
4 Combat veterans who experience post-traumatic stress symptoms perform significantly worse on tests of verbal memory compared with veterans who suffer no such symptoms.
5 Further study revealed that veterans who had seen more intense combat and had more severe post-traumatic symptoms exhibited even greater reduction in the volume of their hippocampi.

OA after some discussion. Guys please mention ur timing as well , could cracked it only in 3:00 min ;(....

IMO 3 2:13
gives an alternate reason.
OA Please?

IMO: C

IMO: A

This choice describes a situation when trauma not cause reduction in the volume of their hippocampi.

Clearly C; 2:14;
the language used here tends to slow you down!!

OA is C

Can someone post OA for this one, please?

Thanks
Mankey

IMO:C , less than 2 mins

IMO C; Less than 2 minutes

Studies of trauma victims suggest that shock brought on by violent or life-threatening situations causes damage to the hippocampi, structures in the brain that play a crucial role in learning and memory. Researchers found that in combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress symptoms, which include nightmares and vivid flashbacks, the hippocampi were eight percent smaller in volume than in combat veterans who suffered no such symptoms. The researchers concluded that the hippocampi had lost cell mass as a result of trauma.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the researchers' conclusion drawn above?
1 In another study, subjects who had experienced the death of a close relative were found to have no reduction in the volume of their hippocampi when compared to those whose close relatives were all still living. [b]- [color=red]Contender but the death of relative may not be so traumatic[/color][/b]
2 In the study, the traumatized veterans were compared with other veterans of similar background, body size, and other characteristics that might have a bearing on brain size. - [b][color=red]It strengthens[/color][/b]
3 Some individuals are born with hippocampi whose volume is smaller than average, and this reduced volume makes them more susceptible to post¬traumatic stress symptoms. - [b][color=green]Yes it weakens because the alternate cause for lower hippocampi is given[/color][/b]
4 Combat veterans who experience post-traumatic stress symptoms perform significantly worse on tests of verbal memory compared with veterans who suffer no such symptoms. - [color=red][b]It strengthens[/b][/color]
5 Further study revealed that veterans who had seen more intense combat and had more severe post-traumatic symptoms exhibited even greater reduction in the volume of their hippocampi. - [color=red][b]It strengthens[/b] [/color]

Is answer C..

Conclusion: Trauma causes reduction in size of hippocampi
Choice C gives us an alternative reason that weakens the author's conclusion

Not a tough question to answer.. But it's size threatens to eat time.

IMO C.

Tough one. I choose A, but it really irrelevant to the premise of argument. Only only shock brought by violent or life-threatening situations (NOT the death of a close relative) causes damage to hippocampi.

In my first thought, I eliminate C because it mention "some people", not representative and assume "the death of a close relative" brings shock that cause hippocampi. This is wrong thought.

Am I correct? Please help me

Yes right!!! not a tough one to answer, basic causal reasoning in the picture. The OA is definitely C. A looks close initially but then does not as death of a close relative is not violent or might not be life threatening. Just the size of the question eats away a lot of time,
approximately 2 mins on an average which is quiet high for a verbal question...


Hope this helped, by the way what is the OA, not mentioned above...