Andr359 wrote:
(Source: 1000CR)
Between 1951 and 1963, it was illegal in the country of Geronia to manufacture, sell, or transport any alcoholic beverages. Despite this prohibition, however, the death rate from diseases related to excessive alcohol consumption was higher during the first five years of the period than it was during the five years prior to 1951. Therefore, the attempt to prevent alcohol use merely make people want and use alcohol more than they would have if it had not been forbidden.
Each of the following, if true, weakens the argument EXCEPT:
(A) Death from an alcohol-related disease generally does not occur until five to ten years after the onset of excessive alcohol consumption.
(B) The diseases that can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption can also be caused by other kinds of behavior that increased between 1951 and 1963.
(C) The death rate resulting from alcohol-related diseases increased just as sharply during the ten years before and the ten years after the prohibition of alcohol as it did during the years of prohibition.
(D) Many who died of alcohol-related diseases between 1951 and 1963 consumed illegally imported alcoholic beverages produced by the same methods as those used within Geronia.
(E) Between 1951 and 1963, among the people with preexisting alcohol-related diseases, the percentage who obtained lifesaving medical attention declined because of a social stigma attached to excessive alcohol consumption.
only D doesn't weaken the argument.
A - this means the deaths were caused by the consumption before the ban was imposed. WEAKENS
B - the diseases are not necessarily because of the consumption of alcohol. WEAKENS
C - weakens the argument. The condition is same for a very long period. Hence not caused by the drinking. WEAKENS
D - strengthens the argument
E - this shows that being alcoholic was not considered good. Hence WEAKENS
_________________
for every person who doesn't try because he is
afraid of loosing , there is another person who
keeps making mistakes and succeeds..