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It is generally agreed by scientists that the naturally
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Updated on: 04 Jun 2017, 19:57
Updated on: 04 Jun 2017, 19:57
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It is generally agreed by scientists that the naturally occurring vitamins found in plants and healthy organic dishes are more readily absorbed by the body and more effective once absorbed than the synthesized vitamins found in vitamin pills. Such pills are useless, therefore, and should be avoided as nothing but a waste of money.
The argument above would be most dramatically undermined if which of the following were true?
A. Vitamin pills can cost anywhere from a fraction of a dollar for an inexpensive generic brand to several tens of dollars per day for custom-planned supplement regimens.
B. Nutritionists typically prescribe combined courses of healthy eating and vitamin supplements.
C. Leafy green vegetables and cold-water fish contain the highest concentrations of vitamins among food items.
D. The volume of food required to obtain quantities of vitamins comparable to what is contained in a vitamin pill is effectively impossible to consume on a daily basis
E. Vitamin pills are often manufactured from organic, plant-based materials.
The argument above would be most dramatically undermined if which of the following were true?
A. Vitamin pills can cost anywhere from a fraction of a dollar for an inexpensive generic brand to several tens of dollars per day for custom-planned supplement regimens.
B. Nutritionists typically prescribe combined courses of healthy eating and vitamin supplements.
C. Leafy green vegetables and cold-water fish contain the highest concentrations of vitamins among food items.
D. The volume of food required to obtain quantities of vitamins comparable to what is contained in a vitamin pill is effectively impossible to consume on a daily basis
E. Vitamin pills are often manufactured from organic, plant-based materials.
Originally posted by vinayparamanand on 20 Aug 2013, 06:53.
Last edited by broall on 04 Jun 2017, 19:57, edited 2 times in total.
Last edited by broall on 04 Jun 2017, 19:57, edited 2 times in total.
Rename the topic.
Re: It is generally agreed by scientists that the naturally occurring
[#permalink]
25 Apr 2021, 08:45
25 Apr 2021, 08:45
Expert Reply
vinayparamanand wrote:
It is generally agreed by scientists that the naturally occurring vitamins found in plants and healthy organic dishes are more readily absorbed by the body and more effective once absorbed than the synthesized vitamins found in vitamin pills. Such pills are useless, therefore, and should be avoided as nothing but a waste of money.
The argument above would be most dramatically undermined if which of the following were true?
A. Vitamin pills can cost anywhere from a fraction of a dollar for an inexpensive generic brand to several tens of dollars per day for custom-planned supplement regimens.
B. Nutritionists typically prescribe combined courses of healthy eating and vitamin supplements.
C. Leafy green vegetables and cold-water fish contain the highest concentrations of vitamins among food items.
D. The volume of food required to obtain quantities of vitamins comparable to what is contained in a vitamin pill is effectively impossible to consume on a daily basis
E. Vitamin pills are often manufactured from organic, plant-based materials.
The argument above would be most dramatically undermined if which of the following were true?
A. Vitamin pills can cost anywhere from a fraction of a dollar for an inexpensive generic brand to several tens of dollars per day for custom-planned supplement regimens.
B. Nutritionists typically prescribe combined courses of healthy eating and vitamin supplements.
C. Leafy green vegetables and cold-water fish contain the highest concentrations of vitamins among food items.
D. The volume of food required to obtain quantities of vitamins comparable to what is contained in a vitamin pill is effectively impossible to consume on a daily basis
E. Vitamin pills are often manufactured from organic, plant-based materials.
VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL SOLUTION:
Correct Answer: D
This argument proceeds from the premise that vitamins contained in food are more effective than vitamins contained in pills to the conclusion that such pills should be avoided as ineffective. The assumption is that there is no other advantage to taking the pill form of the vitamin that might offset the superiority of the food form. Answer choice (D) provides such an offsetting advantage -- the idea that it is effectively impossible to eat enough food to match the amount of vitamins in a pill -- and is correct. Answer choice (A) provides some cost information, potentially linking with the idea of pills being a waste of money, but with nothing to compare to offers no useful information. Answer choice (B) is irrelevant; (C) provides interesting information but is not related to the argument. (E) could be viewed as attacking the idea that vitamins are synthetic, but misses the crucial point of nutritional effectiveness. In addition, it is wise to avoid answer choices that attack a premise and focus on those that attack an unstated assumption.
General Discussion
Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor
Joined: 11 Dec 2012
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Re: It is generally agreed by scientists that the naturally
[#permalink]
20 Aug 2013, 07:21
20 Aug 2013, 07:21
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Expert Reply
vinayparamanand wrote:
It is generally agreed by scientists that the naturally occurring vitamins found in plants and healthy organic dishes are more readily absorbed by the body and more effective once absorbed than the synthesized vitamins found in vitamin pills. Such pills are useless, therefore, and should be avoided as nothing but a waste of money.
The argument above would be most dramatically undermined if which of the following were true?
a.Vitamin pills can cost anywhere from a fraction of a dollar for an inexpensive generic brand to several tens of dollars per day for custom-planned supplement regimens.
b.Nutritionists typically prescribe combined courses of healthy eating and vitamin supplements.
c.Leafy green vegetables and cold-water fish contain the highest concentrations of vitamins among food items.
d.The volume of food required to obtain quantities of vitamins comparable to what is contained in a vitamin pill is effectively impossible to consume on a daily basis
e.Vitamin pills are often manufactured from organic, plant-based materials.
The argument above would be most dramatically undermined if which of the following were true?
a.Vitamin pills can cost anywhere from a fraction of a dollar for an inexpensive generic brand to several tens of dollars per day for custom-planned supplement regimens.
b.Nutritionists typically prescribe combined courses of healthy eating and vitamin supplements.
c.Leafy green vegetables and cold-water fish contain the highest concentrations of vitamins among food items.
d.The volume of food required to obtain quantities of vitamins comparable to what is contained in a vitamin pill is effectively impossible to consume on a daily basis
e.Vitamin pills are often manufactured from organic, plant-based materials.
If we want to weaken this argument, we want to find another reason that people may want to use the vitamin pills. Any answer that gives us a logical reason to pick vitamin pills over the naturally occurring vitamins in plants can be a possible weakener.
A) Money is irrelevant here. Don't get swayed by the fact that the question called this fad a waste of money. They could have easily said these pills are only for dummies. A is out.
B) Why not use both? Because that doesn't weaken the argument in any way. Maybe all the benefit is actually coming from the healthy dishes and the pills are useless. B is out.
C) Undoubtedly true, but who cares vis-à-vis vitamin pills? C is out.
D) Here's a legitimate alternative. Vitamin pill contain so much more vitamin that even if the body only absorbs 10% it's still way more than what the organic dishes can offer. This would give a realistic alternative to the author's conclusion and thus weakens it significantly.
E) Undoubtedly true, but doesn't change the facts about vitamin pill absorption outlined in the stimulus. E is out as well.
When dealing with weaken questions, it's important to try and find an alternative to what the author is selling. If you can find another realistic situation in which the proposed conclusion would be wrong, then you have yourself a bona fide weakener.
Hope this helps!
-Ron
