Discontinuing the use of most habit-forming drugs causes emotional dep

This passage does not have a conclusion, so don't try to make one up. In fact, the question is basically asking you to identify a statement that could be the conclusion given the facts in the passage. Instead, ask yourself, "What's the heart of the passage?" or "What is the author trying to do?" In this case, the author wants to convey that playing recreational sports can help reduce but NOT prevent the emotional depression caused by discontinuing the use of such drugs.

Once you understand the author's purpose, make sure you understand the structure of the passage:

• "Discontinuing the use of most habit-forming drugs causes emotional depression" - this simply tells us that emotional depression is caused when the use of most habit-forming drugs is discontinued. Make sure you pay attention to that little modifier most. The passage does not say that ALL habit-forming drugs cause emotional depression.
• "Playing recreational sports can help reduce the emotional depression caused by discontinuing the use of such drugs" - Again, pay attention to the language choice. Playing recreational sports CAN help reduce the emotional depression; this does not mean that playing recreational sports WILL necessarily reduce the emotional depression.
• The author certainly does not say that playing recreational sports can or will ELIMINATE the emotional depression. In fact, the author explicitly states that "some amount of emotional depression is unlikely to be preventable".

Now, if that's all true, which of the following must be true?


Remember, the passage says that MOST (not ALL) habit-forming drugs cause emotional depression. Thus, we cannot conclude that individuals who discontinue the use of ANY habit-forming drugs will experience at least some emotional depression. (A) can be eliminated.


All we know is that playing recreational sports can help reduce the emotional depression caused by discontinuing the use of many habit-forming drugs. We are not told that participating in recreational sports reduces the likelihood of suffering from emotional depression in general. This statement could be true, but it is not strongly supported by the passage. Eliminate (B).


We are told that "discontinuing the use of most habit-forming drugs causes emotional depression." Thus, discontinuing the use of an addictive opioid will likely cause emotional depression. Playing recreational sports can help REDUCE that emotional depression, but "some amount of emotional depression is unlikely to be preventable." Thus, we can logically conclude that an individual who discontinues the use of an addictive opioid will most likely suffer from some emotional depression despite playing a recreational sport such as tennis. Choice (C) looks good.


Yes, discontinuing the use of habit-forming drugs will likely cause some emotional depression, but this does not mean that those individuals will AVOID emotional depression by continuing to use those drugs. Those individuals could develop emotional depression for a variety of other reasons, and we have no idea how likely it is for those individuals to avoid emotional depression. (D) cannot be logically inferred and should be eliminated.


We are told that playing recreational sports CAN HELP REDUCE the emotional depression caused by discontinuing the use of habit-forming drugs, but we are not told that playing recreational sports is the BEST way to reduce the emotional depression. There could be other treatments/activities that are more effective than playing recreational sports. (E) can be eliminated.

(C) is the best choice.