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Manhattan - Assumption

Expert replies
by akashkumar1987 » Thu Oct 25, 2012 6:29 pm
Smoking is a known cause of certain serious health problems, including emphysema and lung cancer. Now, an additional concern can be added to the list of maladies caused by smoking. A recent study surveyed both smokers and nonsmokers, and found that smokers are significantly more anxious and nervous than nonsmokers.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument rests?

1) Anxiety and nervousness can lead to serious health problems.

2) Anxiety and nervousness do not make individuals more likely to start smoking.

3) Equivalent numbers of smokers and nonsmokers were surveyed for the study.

4) Smokers are aware of the various health problems attributed to smoking, including lung cancer and emphysema.

5)Smokers who had smoked a cigarette immediately before responding to the survey were more anxious and nervous than smokers who had not smoked for several hours.

I selected the 3 as an answer but it s wrong. Acc to me study is only valid when selected groups are equal.
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |

by anuprajan5 » Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:54 pm
Hi,

The answer is B

This is a cause and effect argument. When it comes to such arguments, we need to be sure that the cause causes the effect and not vice versa. For example, smokers are more anxious and nervous and the argument implies that smoking causes this additonal concern and not the other way around.

Regards
Anup
Regards
Anup

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