Critical Reasoning

In developed countries, such as the United States, the percentage of the population diagnosed with clinical depression is much greater than that in developing countries. Researchers hypothesize that this difference is due to the increased leisure time afforded to residents of developed countries.

The hypothesis of the researchers depends on which of the following assumptions?

a.Clinical depression is a genetically transmitted malady.
b.Access to accurate diagnostic procedures for depression is equal for residents of developing and developed countries.
c.Most activities characterized as "leisure time" in developed countries are inherently boring.
d.Certain medications that effectively treat clinical depression are not readily available in developing countries.
e.Few residents of developing countries dedicate any of their time to leisure

ans is b..can some one explain?

Research results are presented: percentage of the population diagnosed with clinical depression is much greater than that in developing countries.

The reason for this is stated as : increased leisure time afforded to residents of developed countries.

i can make 2 assumptions based on this.
-> increased leisure time leads to depression
-> all the other parameters such as medical facilities are the same.

Now lets look at our options:
a.Clinical depression is a genetically transmitted malady. [the author does not talk about genes at all. Eliminated!]

b.Access to accurate diagnostic procedures for depression is equal for residents of developing and developed countries. [Bingo! it hits our assumption no.2. if the facilities are not same, then obviously due to superior medical technology, more cases are detected whereas in developing countries many cases which may be a case of depression go undetected due to lack of facilities. Hence the disparity in number. Correct!]

c.Most activities characterized as “leisure time� in developed countries are inherently boring. [we need to make another assumption here. that boring activities lead to depression. Since we need to make yet another assumption other than what the author makes, we eliminate this option. Eliminated!]

d.Certain medications that effectively treat clinical depression are not readily available in developing countries. [the stimulus concerns only diagnosis and not treatment. Eliminated!]

e.Few residents of developing countries dedicate any of their time to leisure [the author does not assume anything with respect to how many people in developing countries are able to give their time to leisure. The author is trying to give a causual reasoning: increased leisure time -> greter percentage of clinical depression. We are supposed to bridge this causual reasoning with another unstated premise, which is assumption. Eliminated!]

Hope this helps!

Thanks...fibbonnaci...i understood the 1st assumption..However did not understand why we are assuming all other parameters such as medical facilities are same.

Could you please explain ths???

are we tryin 2 assume that because diagnostic procedures are the same...the results are right??

thanks
swapna

swapna wrote:In developed countries, such as the United States, the percentage of the population diagnosed with clinical depression is much greater than that in developing countries. Researchers hypothesize that this difference is due to the increased leisure time afforded to residents of developed countries.

The hypothesis of the researchers depends on which of the following assumptions?

a.Clinical depression is a genetically transmitted malady.
b.Access to accurate diagnostic procedures for depression is equal for residents of developing and developed countries.
c.Most activities characterized as "leisure time" in developed countries are inherently boring.
d.Certain medications that effectively treat clinical depression are not readily available in developing countries.
e.Few residents of developing countries dedicate any of their time to leisure

ans is b..can some one explain?

@Swapna

Fibo gave her splendid reply. Its very much logical . But you have to read her knitty-griity points with a pinch of salt. Let me tell you why so? Becox, in the forum u shall come across some people who are really "experts" in CR & Fibo falls in that category. So only she can assume the other 2 reasons without going thru options.This comes by "Practice Only".

So u will ask me ..How abt for a novice? Well, I suggest you to follow Kaplan Denial Test/Negate Test.
Denail Test defines that, when u try to negate a Option , then the Conclusion should Fall apart, becox our conclusion depends on the Implied assumption. Its like a WHole Building falling apart if u can shake the Fundamentals/Basement of the building.

Coming to query, Apply Denial test to B:

Access to accurate diagnostic procedures for depression is equal for residents of developing and developed countries.

After Denial test :

Access to accurate diagnostic procedures for depression is NOT equal for residents of developing and developed countries.

This statement opens up a" another reason" .So if this st B is true then the conclusion that depended on "lesuire time" will fall apart.

swapna wrote:Thanks...fibbonnaci...i understood the 1st assumption..However did not understand why we are assuming all other parameters such as medical facilities are same.

Could you please explain ths???

are we tryin 2 assume that because diagnostic procedures are the same...the results are right??

thanks
swapna

@Fibo..

Somehow I feel this shuld be a strengthen the conclusion stated query rather than a assumption!!

Wat do u say?

Thanks dude....my concern was nt abt who is good at what...i was jus confirming if my understanding was right....thanks for the advice on practicing more etc.

swapna wrote:Thanks dude....my concern was nt abt who is good at what...i was jus confirming if my understanding was right....thanks for the advice on practicing more etc.

Swapna...

Oh Ho!u took me wrong it seems...! fibo's style of explaining things are very detailed.So i said,one shuld have that level of "understanding" to get her what she meant.

I said abt Kaplan Denaial test becox , that is basically a "tool" which one can use when u wanna reinforce ur instincts!

Lets clear the smoke off the air!!

thanks dude...not a problem...