One of the limiting factors in human physical performance is the amoun

The conclusion of this argument is that SuperOXY would be useless in improving physical performance. Here's how the author reaches this conclusion:

• The amount of oxygen that muscles absorb from the bloodstream is a limiting factor in physical performance.
• SuperOXY is water with extra oxygen.
• Muscle can't absorb more oxygen than the amount that's already in the blood of people who are exercising.
• Therefore, SuperOXY won't do anything to improve physical performance.

This seems straightforward enough. Where this gets challenging is the question itself:


Whoa, let's unpack this for a second. This question forces us to think through a couple steps before we try to answer it:

1. What logical function does the boldface statement serve?
2. Which of the following choices, if true, serves that same logical function?

Before we move onto #2, let's make sure we have the right answer to #1.

The argument concludes that SuperOXY won't do anything to improve physical performance. The bolded statement tells us the reasoning behind this conclusion. More specifically, the bolded statement tells us that muscle can't absorb additional oxygen from the bloodstream.

This supports the conclusion by confirming that the oxygen in SuperOXY can't be absorbed by muscles. The correct answer choice will do both of these things! Now, let's start eliminating:


Who cares about record performances and world-class athletes? We're trying to support an argument about the effectiveness of SuperOXY. Choice (A) goes nowhere near that argument, so let's eliminate it.


Choice (B) doesn't get specific enough to tell us anything about how muscle absorbs oxygen and doesn't imply anything about SuperOXY. Eliminate (B).


Bingo! (C) tells us that the only way that oxygen can be absorbed by muscles is through the lungs. Ingesting water through your lungs would kill you! So choice (C) effectively tells us that SuperOXY can't be ingested in the only way that leads to more oxygen absorption.

This has nothing at all to do with the amount of oxygen that can be absorbed through blood. But it doesn't have to, because we're asked if choice (C) would serve the same function as the bolded statement. We're not adding (C) to the passage. Instead, we're replacing the bolded statement with (C). And it works in exactly the same way, supporting the conclusion by confirming that the oxygen in SuperOXY can't be absorbed by muscles. So let's keep it around.


So what? Choice (D) says absolutely nothing about SuperOXY, and the argument doesn't care at all about any of these other potential factors. We need a choice that supports the conclusion that SuperOXY won't increase oxygen absorption. (D) isn't that choice, so get rid of it.


Choice (E) doesn't even pretend to care about oxygen! And we certainly don't care about lost water. So eliminate (E).

(C) is far and away the best choice. It might have been tough to see if we hadn't identified what exactly we were being asked to do. But once the question stem is cleared up, the process of elimination becomes as easy as... breathing water?

OK, maybe not that easy, but always take the time to know what argument you're dealing with and what question you need to answer. And definitely don't try to ingest water through your lungs. GMAC test centers really hate that.
_________________

First up, the conclusion of the premise along with the bold face statement is that "SuperOXY" is not useful.

Let us jump on to the options and try to find out the one which tells us that SuperOXY is not useful.

A. world-class athletes turn in record performance without such water
Irrelevant as it brings in an additional element about which the premise is not talking
B. frequent physical exercise increases the body’s ability to take in and use oxygen
Again irrelevant. This does not give us a reason why the body cannot absorb more oxygen.
C. the only way to get oxygen into the bloodstream so that it can be absorbed by the muscles is through the lungs
This tells us exactly what we are looking for. If the only way to get oxygen in the bloodstream is through lungs, then SuperOXY is not useful. Correct Answer
D. lack of oxygen is not the only factor limiting human physical performance
This is talking about an element not related to the premise.
E. the water lost in exercising can be replaced with ordinary tap water
Again, we are not talking about the oxygen here.

There is another version of this question with slight changes in the options here: one-of-the-limiting-factors-in-human-physical-performance-is-88662.html?sid=9a1e89f9dca0d5319280db223f76a226#p668800

What confused me with the correct answer, even though by the structure it makes most sense, is that I was looking for a sentence that would have the same meaning as the one in bold face. Since it stated that muscles cannot get more oxygen as it is, I eliminated the correct answer because it was talking about muscles absorbing oxygen, the opposite of the boldface.
So what I got from this is not to confuse "serves the same function" with "has similar meaning"

Hi AnnaKathpal,

Option C does not negate the first sentence of the argument. Lets see why.

One of the limiting factors in human physical performance is the amount of oxygen that is absorbed by the muscles from the bloodstream. - It means that muscles can absorb oxygen from the bloodstream upto a certain threshold. If the threshold is crossed muscles cannot absorb oxygen.

Option C: the only way to get oxygen into the bloodstream so that it can be absorbed by the muscles is through the lungs - Oxygen enters bloodstream through lungs. Later, muscles absorb oxygen from the bloodstream. This option does not go against the stated fact in the question.

Now, why is option C correct? If you replace the bold portion and fit in option C, it strengthens the conclusion that SuperOXY is useless in improving physical performance.

Hope it helps.

One of the limiting factors in human physical performance is the amount of oxygen that is absorbed by the muscles from the bloodstream. Accordingly, entrepreneurs have begun selling at gymnasiums and health clubs bottles of drinking water, labeled "SuperOXY," that has extra oxygen dissolved in the water. Such water would be useless in improving physical performance, however, since the amount of oxygen in the blood of people who are exercising is already more than the muscle can absorb.

Which of the following, if true, would serve the same function in the argument as the statement in boldface?

1) IDENTIFY CONCLUSION: (SUPEROXY) is USELESS in improving physical performance
2) CATEGORIZE BOLDFACE: PREMISE, STRENGTHENS CONCLUSION
3) PRE-THINK: FIND WAYS TO PROVE SUPEROXY ADDS NO VALUE TO IMPROVING PERFORMANCE

(A) world-class athletes turn in record performance without such water
- so? what if they can turn in more/better record performances with SuperOXY?

(B) frequent physical exercise increases the body’s ability to take in and use oxygen
- doesn't address SuperOXY. what if SuperOXY could help? what if it doesn't?

(C) the only way to get oxygen into the bloodstream so that it can be absorbed by the muscles is through the lungs
- correct as is. if this is the case, no matter what you drink, the only way to get more oxygen is to absorb through the lungs. Therefore, SuperOXY (or any other drink) is ineffective in improving physical performance

(D) lack of oxygen is not the only factor limiting human physical performance
- we don't care about OTHER factors that could limit human physical performance

(E) the water lost in exercising can be replaced with ordinary tap water
- how does this address improving physical performance by way of adding/digesting oxygen?

Kudos please if you find this helpful

Here, the boldface portion backs up the conclusion that usage of superOXY water is not viable. We need a similar line of reasoning as per question stem.

My POE was based on below reasoning. Please let me know where i am wrong.

option A- world-class athletes are not discussed. Human physical performance is discussed. WRONG
option B- It enhances the reasoning of superOXY to be a more successful product. WRONG
option C- Function of lungs is irrelevant. We do not know the mechanism. WRONG
option D- We are not discussing other limiting factors. WRONG
option E- If ordinary tp water can replace superOXY then the usage of superOXY is null. Hence correct.


I want to know how this line of reasoning is wrong.

Many thanks

bapism07

The line of reasoning here
Conclusion: Such water would be useless in improving physical performance of people( at gymnasiums and health clubs )
and boldface part is a support that is presented in favor of the conclusion.

BF: the amount of oxygen in the blood of people who are exercising is already more than the muscle can absorb.

Similarly think of a reason, which illustrates that Although exercising people drink SuperOxy water, they were unable to increase oxygen absorption.

C is clearly a winner if absorption is only possible through lungs it doesn't matter how much SuperOxy water u drink unless that water goes to lungs, a case that will likely cause pulmonary edema

E on the other hand does nothing to this argument - We are concerned about absorption not about the replacement of water.

Hope it helps.

I do not agree with option C.
The paragraph says "Such water would be useless in improving physical performance, however, since the amount of oxygen in the blood of people who are exercising is already more than the muscle can absorb."
It does not say every person going to gymnasiums and health clubs is at his/her peak Oxygen absorbing capacity. So, may be this water will help those who are just starting fresh in the gym.
Option D " lack of oxygen is not the only factor limiting human physical performance" is right because it negates the advantage of this water for both freshers and experience people.

3) PRE-THINK: FIND WAYS TO PROVE SUPEROXY ADDS NO VALUE TO IMPROVING PERFORMANCE

LakerFan24

- Oxygen is a limiting factor in human performance.
- A product is advertised and marketed as having extra oxygen
- However, this product would not help performance because it can't be absorbed by people already exercising

The word 'however' is a clue that we have to find a statement that attacks the benefits of this product.

A. Doesn't really hurt the argument. Incorrect.

B. If frequent exercise increases the body's ability to use oxygen, wouldn't these individuals be able to benefit from the drink? This would strengthen the argument. Incorrect.

C. If we put this line back in the argument: "However, the only way to get oxygen into the bloodstream so that it can be absorbed by the muscles is through the lungs"

This choice seems good. If we can't reap the benefits of the drink, then our physical performance would not improve.

D. It might not be the only factor limiting human physical performance, but it's the factor we're discussing. Incorrect.

E. Irrelevant.

Answer is C.
_________________

Understanding the argument -
One of the limiting factors in human physical performance is the amount of oxygen that is absorbed by the muscles from the bloodstream. Fact
Accordingly, entrepreneurs have begun selling at gymnasiums and health clubs bottles of drinking water, labeled "SuperOXY," that has extra oxygen dissolved in the water. Fact
Such water would be useless in improving physical performance, however, - Main conclusion
since the amount of oxygen in the blood of people who are exercising is already more than the muscle can absorb. - Premise supporting the conclusion.

Option Elimination -

The boldface functions as a support for the main conclusion. So we are trying to find a strengthener.

(A) world-class athletes turn in record performance without such water - It does matter. Even if world-class athletes could turn in record performances without such water, it could still be useful for others. At best this is out of scope.

(B) frequent physical exercise increases the body’s ability to take in and use oxygen - From the supporting premise we already know that the body already has enough reserve so if frequent exercise increases the body's ability to take in and use oxygen, the body already has oxygen more than the muscle can absorb. This doesn't matter. So at best, it's out of scope.

(C) the only way to get oxygen into the bloodstream so that it can be absorbed by the muscles is through the lungs - Perfect. Then, it means the entrepreneurs are fooling people, and it perfectly supports the conclusion that such water is useless.

(D) lack of oxygen is not the only factor limiting human physical performance - Maybe there are other factors, but in a way, it acknowledges that it is also one of the factors. But we already know from the supporting premise that the body already has oxygen more than the muscle can absorb. The other factors don't matter. So at best, it's out of scope.

(E) the water lost in exercising can be replaced with ordinary tap water - out of scope.