Clerical workers show more signs of stress during the work day than

I need an explanation why not C, kindly share

The hormone itself might not cause stress but the hormone in combination with another hormone might lead to stress. So this could be a valid assumption. Another explanation would be, the hormone does not cause stress it is just an indicator of stress. Hence, higher level of Cortisol implies higher stress in body but it necessarily doesn't have to be the sole causing agent of stress. Hence, valid assumption.

The right way to check is to negate the option and check if it weakens the argument. For example, "The hormone Cortisol does cause stress by itself." This statement is only supporting the argument that higher cortisol level in employees of lower hierarchy is an implication that they are suffering from higher stress.

which means , option E is not a assumption but a right fact. good package and good lifestyle isolates stress

To tag a user, type @ followed by their exact username.

Yeah we do not need to assume option E to prove clerical workers face more stress.

negating option E we broadly get, "those at the higher rungs of hierarchy do not get insulated from stress due to higher salary, better facilities etc." It may seem like weakening the argument by stating that not only the clerical workers but also the workers at higher rungs of hierarchy face stress. But it is not a weakener as the option after negation doesn't disprove the fact that clerical workers face more stress. Another explanation would be, so what higher salary and better perks doesn't insulate them from stress, there might be something else that might be insulating them from stress. So this is not a valid assumption.

I do get why E is not necessarily an assumption. But can anyone explain why A needs to be assumed. The study is itself a generalized study of lower level employees which sort of encompasses clerical workers.

It's not like we are drawing a generalized conclusion from a trageted/specific group.

-Also, what should be throught procedure to be adopted for these type of options.

Thanks in advance.

Bunuel

Official Explanation

Answer: E

Since this is an EXCEPT question, we need to identify four assumptions in the argument and the fifth option will be the correct answer.

(A) This has to be assumed because the conclusion is for all employees in general whereas the evidence is just the study. If the study were not representative of all employees, the argument would fall apart.

(B) This also has to be true for the argument to be true. If there could be other causes for high blood pressure, then we cannot necessarily conclude that just because certain employees in Britain have high blood pressure, they are under lots of stress.

(C) This has to be true for the argument to be true. The argument hinges on the fact that stress leads to Cortisol; if this causality were reversed the argument will fall apart.

(D) Same as B.

(E) The correct answer. This could be an inference from the argument or an explanation of the argument but is definitely not an assumption in the argument. Even if you negate this option, the argument will not fall apart.