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25 Feb 2025, 09:19
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Difficulty:
55%
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61% (01:55) correct
39%
(02:41)
wrong
based on 102
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A recent study found that individuals who regularly engage in mentally stimulating activities, such as reading and solving puzzles, tend to experience a slower rate of cognitive decline as they age. Based on this finding, some researchers argue that increasing access to books and brain-training games will help prevent age-related cognitive decline in the general population. However, critics argue that this conclusion is flawed because people who engage in these activities may already possess cognitive advantages that make them less likely to experience decline, regardless of the activities they perform.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the critics’ argument?
(A) A long-term study found that individuals who started engaging in mentally stimulating activities later in life experienced a slower rate of cognitive decline than those who never engaged in such activities.
(B) Some individuals with high cognitive ability do not engage in mentally stimulating activities yet still experience minimal cognitive decline.
(C) People who regularly engage in mentally stimulating activities are more likely to have had higher levels of education than those who do not.
(D) The majority of individuals who engage in mentally stimulating activities also maintain physically active lifestyles, which are independently linked to cognitive health.
(E) Cognitive decline is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, diet, and social interaction, in addition to mental stimulation.
Correct Answer: (A)
The critics argue that mentally stimulating activities do not prevent cognitive decline but instead correlate with preexisting cognitive advantages. Option (A) weakens this argument by showing that even individuals who started these activities later in life—who may not have had initial cognitive advantages—still benefited. This suggests a causal relationship between mental stimulation and reduced cognitive decline, undermining the critics' position. The other options either support the critics' claim (C, D, E) or do not directly address the causal relationship in question (B).
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the critics’ argument?
(A) A long-term study found that individuals who started engaging in mentally stimulating activities later in life experienced a slower rate of cognitive decline than those who never engaged in such activities.
(B) Some individuals with high cognitive ability do not engage in mentally stimulating activities yet still experience minimal cognitive decline.
(C) People who regularly engage in mentally stimulating activities are more likely to have had higher levels of education than those who do not.
(D) The majority of individuals who engage in mentally stimulating activities also maintain physically active lifestyles, which are independently linked to cognitive health.
(E) Cognitive decline is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, diet, and social interaction, in addition to mental stimulation.
Show Spoiler Explanation:
Correct Answer: (A)
The critics argue that mentally stimulating activities do not prevent cognitive decline but instead correlate with preexisting cognitive advantages. Option (A) weakens this argument by showing that even individuals who started these activities later in life—who may not have had initial cognitive advantages—still benefited. This suggests a causal relationship between mental stimulation and reduced cognitive decline, undermining the critics' position. The other options either support the critics' claim (C, D, E) or do not directly address the causal relationship in question (B).
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27 Feb 2025, 09:11
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Please share the official explaination
Gmat750aspirant
Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Critical Reasoning (CR) Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
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