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by jitendra_mulchandani » Wed Apr 14, 2010 11:19 pm
Baking for winter holidays is tradition that may have a sound medical basis. In midwinter, when days are short, many people suffer from a specific type of seasonal depression caused by lack of sunlight. Carbohydrates, both sugars and starches, boost the brain's levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that improve the mood. In this respect, carbohydrates act on the brain in the same way as some antidepressants. Thus, eating holiday cookies may provide an effective form of self-prescribed medication.

Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the passage?
(A) Seasonal depression is one of the most easily treated forms of depression.
(B) Lack of sunlight lowers the level of serotonin in the brain.
(C) People are more likely to be depressed in midwinter than at other times of the year.
(D) Some antidepressants act by changing the brain's level of serotonin.
(E) Raising the level of neurotransmitters in the brain effectively relieves depression.
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |

by vivek1110 » Wed Apr 14, 2010 11:34 pm
I'm gonna say D!
Is caught between a rock and a hard place!
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by gmatmachoman » Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:10 am
vivek1110 wrote:I'm gonna say D!

One more for D
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by jitendra_mulchandani » Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:45 am
OA - D

Can you please explain whats wrong with B ?
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by kevincanspain » Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:59 am
jitendra_mulchandani wrote:OA - D

Can you please explain whats wrong with B ?
B is possibly true, but it cannot be inferred from the text. Perhaps the lack of sunlight induces depression be means of another mechanism, and raising the level or serotonin offsets the effects of this mechanism. In other words, we don't know if a lack of sunlight lowers the levels of sertonin
Kevin Armstrong
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by hachette » Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:00 am
Carbohydrates, both sugars and starches, boost the brain's levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that improve the mood. In this respect, carbohydrates act on the brain in the same way as some antidepressants.

(D) Some antidepressants act by changing the brain’s level of serotonin.

If you read the portion of the argument marked in bold it becomes clear it is option (D)

Infact the underlined parts starting with some anti.... and going in the reverse order is ditto option (D) except the word on & boost instead of by changing.

Inference is too close to the premise for comfort (almost cloning).
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