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Option E.

Cause: Bacteria
Effect: Conjunctivitis
Info: Bacteria manifests itself post 6months.
Conclusion: Brush not to be used after 6months.
Reason for conclusion from premise: Post 6 months bacteria manifests causing conjunctivitis.

Weakening option: The option that will suggest there are other causes for the effect. i.e, conjunctivitis is likely caused by other means instead of brush.

Ans: E.
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If option B would have suggested otherwise, then it would have made sense. Having same level of contamination at 6th and 8th moth doesnt mean there is no contamination at 6th month which wasnt there before 6th month. However, If it would have said that the contamination before 6th month is equivalent to contamination post 6th month, then we could have considered it as a weakening option. Cutoff still stands at 6th month for option B if it doesnt explicitly mentions the comparision before and after 6th month.
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Correct answer is B.
A. This option suggests that contamination occurs regardless of how well the mascara is sealed. However, it does not weaken the suggestion that mascara brushes become contaminated after 6 months or that they should not be used beyond that period.
B. This option indicates that brushes used for longer than 6 months do not necessarily have more bacteria than those used for 6 months. This finding would weaken the suggestion, as it implies that the 6-month cutoff may not be relevant to contamination levels.
C. This option addresses the researchers' understanding of the contamination process but does not directly affect the validity of the 6-month recommendation. Knowing the cause of contamination is not essential to the conclusion.
D. This option raises a concern about other contaminants but does not address the specific issue of bacterial contamination or the 6-month guideline.
E. This option suggests that contamination may not lead to eye infections or conjunctivitis, which would weaken the reason for limiting mascara use to 6 months. However, it does not directly challenge the 6-month guideline based on bacterial levels.
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B tells that brushes used for 8 months might contain less or equal amount of contamination than brushes used for 6 months. But its already given that brushes get contaminated ONLY AFTER 6 months.
Hence little or no contamination for brushes used for 8 months. This WEAKENS the advice researchers suggest that mascara brushes should not be used for more than six months.
Bunuel
Some medical researchers suspect that eye mascara brushes can become contaminated with bacteria, leading to conjunctivitis and other eye infections. The contamination usually manifests itself after six months of use. Because of this, these researchers suggest that mascara brushes should not be used for more than six months.

Which of the following statements would most weaken the suggestion put forth by these medical researchers?

A The medical researchers found that those people who carefully sealed the brushes in their mascara tubes were as likely to have contaminated brushes as those who did not.

B The medical researchers did not find more bacteria contamination in mascara brushes that were used for eight months than those used for six months.

C The medical researchers do not know why mascara brushes usually become contaminated after six months.

D The medical researchers did not consider other possible contaminants such as viruses, or product defects.

E The medical researchers found that those who used contaminated mascara brushes had no higher incidence of conjunctivitis or eye infections than those who did not.


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Bunuel
Some medical researchers suspect that eye mascara brushes can become contaminated with bacteria, leading to conjunctivitis and other eye infections. The contamination usually manifests itself after six months of use. Because of this, these researchers suggest that mascara brushes should not be used for more than six months.

Which of the following statements would most weaken the suggestion put forth by these medical researchers?

A The medical researchers found that those people who carefully sealed the brushes in their mascara tubes were as likely to have contaminated brushes as those who did not.

B The medical researchers did not find more bacteria contamination in mascara brushes that were used for eight months than those used for six months.

C The medical researchers do not know why mascara brushes usually become contaminated after six months.

D The medical researchers did not consider other possible contaminants such as viruses, or product defects.

E The medical researchers found that those who used contaminated mascara brushes had no higher incidence of conjunctivitis or eye infections than those who did not.


OFFICIAL EXPLANATION



This is a weaken the argument question.

The first step is to identify the argument. In this example, the argument is: Some medical researchers suspect that eye mascara brushes can become contaminated with bacteria, leading to conjunctivitis and other eye infections.

Anticipate what the answer will be, if possible. An answer that could weaken the argument would probably state that mascara brushes contaminated with bacteria will not increase the number of cases of eye infections.

Eliminate answer choices that do not weaken the argument. Choices A, B, C, and D do not contradict the idea that bacteria-contaminated mascara brushes lead to conjunctivitis and other eye infections. Only E does this. Choice E basically negates the argument by stating that those who used contaminated mascara brushes had NO greater risk for conjunctivitis or other eye infections than those who did not.
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E The medical researchers found that those who used contaminated mascara brushes had no higher incidence of conjunctivitis or eye infections than those who did not.

I thought E meant that by saying those who used contaminated brushes lets say Ana doesnt has higher incidence of Conjuctivitis (CV) - that means Ana doesnt has any pre-existing conditions that would make her more prone to CV- than someone who doesnt use brushes thereby meaning that all variables are constant and only variable different is brushes - hence this acting like a strengthener Bunuel
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