Significant beneficial effects of smoking occur primarily in the area

since the discussion is between smoking and longevity.....there is no mention of the relation between them,.....

(E) No statistical evidence has proven a link between smoking and longevity

OA:E

The right answer is E in my view.

Premise: Significant beneficial effects of smoking occur primarily in the area of mental health, and the habit originates in a search for contentment.
Premise: The life expectancy of our people has increased greatly in recent years;
Conclusion 1: it is possible that the relaxation and contentment and enjoyment produced by smoking have lengthened many lives.
Conclusion 2: Smoking is beneficial.

Two conclusions can be identified from the argument above. Conclusion 1 above is based on the fact that life expectancy of our people has increased greatly in recent years. There is no obvious link between this conclusion and the cited fact. Let's assume that the fact that life expectancy our people has increased is correct; does this information provide any justification that the increased life expectancy is due to the useful benefits of smoking? Do we have any statistical sample of smokers who have shown increased life expectancy due to their smoking habits? The argument could have been better made if specific statistics linking smoking to increased life expectancy is included.

Based on the above, option E, which states that no statistical evidence has proven a link between smoking and longevity, is the best weakener of the argument.

Significant beneficial effects of smoking occur primarily in the area of mental health, and the habit originates in a search for contentment. The life expectancy of our people has increased greatly in recent years; it is possible that the relaxation and contentment and enjoyment produced by smoking has lengthened many lives. Smoking is beneficial.
Which of the following, if true, weaken the above conclusion?

(A) That cigarettes are a major health hazard cannot be traced to the willful act of any human or organization. - WRONG. Neither strengthens nor weakens.

(B) The government earns millions of dollars from the tobacco tax and tens of thousands of civilians are employed in the tobacco industry. - WRONG. Strengthens actually.

(C) The evidence cited in the statement covers only one example of the effects of cigarette smoking. - WRONG. May be weakens but not to the degree that is required to make the option better than other options.

(D) No mention is made of possible harmful side effects of smoking - WRONG. Not mentioning harmful effects does not weaken the argument.

(E) No statistical evidence has proven a link between smoking and longevity - CORRECT. If something is claimed to be possible an evidence supporting the claim would strengthen it. But since no evidence/facts is given claim is weakened.

IMO Answer E.

Significant beneficial effects of smoking occur primarily in the area of mental health, and the habit originates in a search for contentment. The life expectancy of our people has increased greatly in recent years; it is possible that the relaxation and contentment and enjoyment produced by smoking has lengthened many lives. Smoking is beneficial.

Which of the following, if true, weaken the above conclusion?


(A) That cigarettes are a major health hazard cannot be traced to the willful act of any human or organization. -unrelated

(B) The government earns millions of dollars from the tobacco tax and tens of thousands of civilians are employed in the tobacco industry. -unrelated

(C) The evidence cited in the statement covers only one example of the effects of cigarette smoking.- correct; if the staement covers only one example, the good side of smoking( a seardch for contentment), meaning there are other effects of smoking. Those effects could be bad. smoking could be unbeneficial.

(D) No mention is made of possible harmful side effects of smoking. - if this is true, then it strengthen the conclusion

(E) No statistical evidence has proven a link between smoking and longevity - too weak

Therefore C

The stimulus states that smoking is beneficial and it's effects on mental health have been observed. It is found to increase longevity in patients.

We have to weaken the stimulus.

The stimulus only talks about the benefits but harmful effects of smoking are not discussed.

IMO D

Posted from my mobile device

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.