Critical Reasoning

Human beings have cognitive faculties that are superior to those of other animals, and once humans become aware of these, they cannot be made happy by anything that does not involve gratification of these faculties.


Which one of the following statements, if true, most
calls into question the view above?

(A) Certain animals-dolphins and chimpanzees,
for example-appear to be capable of
rational communication.

(B) Many people familiar both with intellectual
stimulation and with physical pleasures
enjoy the latter more.

(C) Someone who never experienced classical
music as a child will usually prefer popular
music as an adult.

(D) Many people who are serious athletes consider
themselves to be happy.

(E) Many people who are serious athletes love
gourmet food.



I marked OA as E because the cognitive ability for an athlete could be the task he does and if he is happy with something else i.e. gourmet food then this point weakens the argument.


Can you please explain.

vishalwin wrote:Human beings have cognitive faculties that are superior to those of other animals, and once humans become aware of these, they cannot be made happy by anything that does not involve gratification of these faculties.


Which one of the following statements, if true, most
calls into question the view above?

(A) Certain animals-dolphins and chimpanzees,
for example-appear to be capable of
rational communication.

(B) Many people familiar both with intellectual
stimulation and with physical pleasures
enjoy the latter more.

(C) Someone who never experienced classical
music as a child will usually prefer popular
music as an adult.

(D) Many people who are serious athletes consider
themselves to be happy.

(E) Many people who are serious athletes love
gourmet food.

This CR concludes that humans who are aware of their cognitive faculties can be made happy only by something that gratifies these cognitive faculties.
The correct answer choice must weaken this conclusion.

B: Many people familiar both with intellectual stimulation and with physical pleasures enjoy the latter more.
Here, people who are familiar with intellectual stimulation -- in other words, people who aware of their cognitive faculties -- are made happy by something that does NOT gratify these cognitive faculties (physical pleasures).
Thus, B weakens the conclusion that humans who are aware of their cognitive faculties can be made happy ONLY by something that gratifies these cognitive faculties.

The correct answer is B.

I marked OA as E because the cognitive ability for an athlete could be the task he does and if he is happy with something else i.e. gourmet food then this point weakens the argument.

E: Many people who are serious athletes love gourmet food.
Since it is unknown whether serious athletes are aware of their cognitive faculties, this answer choice is out of scope.
Eliminate E.