Quote:
Science columnist: It is clear why humans have so many diseases in common with cats. Many human diseases are genetically based, and cats are genetically closer to humans than are any other mammals except nonhuman primates. Each of the genes identified so far in cats has an exact counterpart in humans.
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the science columnist’s explanation for the claim that humans have so many diseases in common with cats?
(A) Cats have built up resistance to many of the diseases they have in common with humans.
(B) Most diseases that humans have in common with cats have no genetic basis.
(C) Cats have more diseases in common with nonhuman primates than with humans.
(D) Many of the diseases humans have in common with cats are mild and are rarely diagnosed.
(E) Humans have more genes in common with nonhuman primates than with cats.
The right answer to this question is
B. Since this question is asking us to weaken the conclusion, we must first isolate that base reasoning. In this case it is that humans have so many diseases in common with cats because they are genetically similar. So what we need is something which suggests that genetic similarity doesn't have much to do with the similar diseases.
A - It is not relevant whether cats have built up a resistance to these diseases or not. We want to find and shatter a link between humans and cats getting the same diseases.
OUTB - If the diseases that humans and cats both get have no genetic basis, it suggests that the reason the diseases are similar has less to do with genetics and more to do with other factors, such as common environment.
CORRECTC - So what? It does not nullify that cats and humans still share a lot in common. The fact that a more sharp connection exists elsewhere does not invalidate the sharpness of this connection.
OUTD - This does not weaken the claim either. Even if the diseases are mild or rarely diagnosed, they are still very much present. In fact, the problem with both this option and the last is that we aren't looking to suggest that there is NO link between human diseases and cat diseases. We are looking to break the reason given for this link.
OUTE - This is just an inverse of option C. It doesn't matter if there are closer links with other species, this one still exists.
OUT - Matoo
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Crackverbal Prep Team
www.crackverbal.com