Hi!
What is choice A? Can you post it?

Please post the complete question!

Studies have shown that elderly people who practice a religion are much more likely to die immediately after an
important religious holiday period than immediately before one. Researchers have concluded that the will to live
can prolong life, at least for short periods of time.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the researchers' conclusion?
(A) Elderly people who practice a religion are less likely to die immediately before or during an important
religious holiday than at any other time of the year.
(B) Elderly people who practice a religion appear to experience less anxiety at the prospect of dying than do
other people.
(C) Some elderly people who do practice a religion live much longer than most elderly people who do not.
(D) Most elderly people who participate in religious holidays have different reasons for participating than young
people do.
(E) Many religions have important holidays in the spring and fall, seasons with the lowest death rates for elderly
people.


Here A is simply repeating the premise, in strengthening Q's we need to find some new info.

ANy thougts

Studies have shown that elderly people who practice a religion are much more likely to die immediately after an important religious holiday period than immediately before one. Researchers have concluded that the will to live can prolong life, at least for short periods of time.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the researchers' conclusion? (
A) Elderly people who practice a religion are less likely to die immediately before or during an important religious holiday than at any other time of the year. YES! by saying less likely to die before or during an religious holiday---> they are more likely to die AFTER the religious holiday. GMAT makers like this type of rearranging word orders. For example, "this is common" vs. "this is not uncommon." SAME MEANING.
(B) Elderly people who practice a religion appear to experience less anxiety at the prospect of dying than do other people. "degree of anxiety" is not an issue in thi argument. The issue is whetherthe elderly people are likely die after a religious holiday.
(C) Some elderly people who do practice a religion live much longer than most elderly people who do not. IRRELEVANT. or out of scope. not an issue.
(D) Most elderly people who participate in religious holidays have different reasons for participating than young people do. "reasons"....not an issue.
(E) Many religions have important holidays in the spring and fall, seasons with the lowest Death rates for elderly people. irrelevant.


hope this helps.

hitmewithgmat wrote:Studies have shown that elderly people who practice a religion are much more likely to die immediately after an important religious holiday period than immediately before one. Researchers have concluded that the will to live can prolong life, at least for short periods of time.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the researchers' conclusion? (
A) Elderly people who practice a religion are less likely to die immediately before or during an important religious holiday than at any other time of the year. YES! by saying less likely to die before or during an religious holiday---> they are more likely to die AFTER the religious holiday. GMAT makers like this type of rearranging word orders. For example, "this is common" vs. "this is not uncommon." SAME MEANING.
(B) Elderly people who practice a religion appear to experience less anxiety at the prospect of dying than do other people. "degree of anxiety" is not an issue in thi argument. The issue is whetherthe elderly people are likely die after a religious holiday.
(C) Some elderly people who do practice a religion live much longer than most elderly people who do not. IRRELEVANT. or out of scope. not an issue.
(D) Most elderly people who participate in religious holidays have different reasons for participating than young people do. "reasons"....not an issue.
(E) Many religions have important holidays in the spring and fall, seasons with the lowest Death rates for elderly people. irrelevant.


hope this helps.

makes sense...
thanks!

I am leaning more towards A, but I'm not sure about it.