The author of the passage reasons that a high education level increases the chances of making informed lifestyle choices which in turn increases the chances of having good health.

However, what if there is another underlying factor that leads to BOTH high education levels AND good health? For example, perhaps growing up in a wealthy neighborhood increases the chances of getting a high education while simultaneously increasing the chances of having good health. In that case, education does not lead to good health. Rather, growing up in a wealthy neighborhood leads to good health, and, at the same time, growing up in a wealthy neighborhood leads to high education.

So the "same thing" (in this example, growing up in a wealthy neighborhood), causally contributes both to education and to good health.
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The argument contains a causal conclusion that asserts that good health is primarily caused by informed lifestyle choices (education):

Premise: Some people believe that good health is due to luck.

Premise: However, studies from many countries indicate a strong correlation between good health and high educational levels.

Conclusion: Thus research supports the view that good health is largely the result of making informed lifestyle choices.

The author errs in assuming that the correlation mentioned in the second premise supports a causal conclusion.

Answer choice (A): A disproportionate number of people (about one in three) select this answer. Does the argument presume that to make an informed lifestyle choice a person must be highly educated? The author certainly believes that high educational levels lead to informed choices, but the answer suggests that the author thinks that the highly educated are the only people able to make an informed choice. The wording is too strong and this answer is incorrect.

Answer choice (B): The author specifically notes that good health is largely the result of making informed lifestyle choices. There is no mention of poor health, nor need there be since the argument focuses on a correlation between good health and education. Thus, overlooking the possibility mentioned in this answer choice is not an error.

Answer choice (C): The author does not make the presumption that informed lifestyle choices are available to everyone, just that making good choices generally results in good health.

Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer. Remember, the error of causality is one with many facets, and one of those errors is assuming that no third element caused both the stated cause and the stated effect. This answer choice indicates that a third element (such as money) could cause both the conditions described in the argument. Remember, if you know an error of causality occurred in the stimulus, look for the answer that uses the words cause or effect! This is the only answer to do so, and it is correct.

Answer choice (E): Unlike many causal conclusions, the conclusion in this argument is not ironclad. The author specifically says that the effect is largely the result of the cause, and that statement implicitly allows other causes to lead to the effect, even if one does not make an informed lifestyle choice.
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Some people believe that gaining wealth is due to luck. However, research from many institutions worldwide indicates a strong correlation between gaining wealth and high educational levels. Thus research supports the view that gaining wealth is largely the result of making informed career and business choices.

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument..

A.presumes, without providing justification that only highly educated people make informed career and business choices. WRONG BECAUSE OF WORD "ONLY".....OTHER THINGS BESIDES EDUCATION COULD ALSO LEAD TO INFORMED CHOICES....
B.overlooks the possibility that people who make informed career and business choices may nonetheless belong to a poor family..... IRRELEVANT...
C.presumes, without providing justification, that informed career and business choices are available to everyone. IRRELEVANT....
D.overlooks the possibility that the same thing may causally contribute both to education and to gaining wealth. CORRECT....."EDUCATION" MAY NOT LEAD TO "INFORMED CHOICES" BUT SOMETHING ELSE MAY HAVE LED TO BOTH....
E.does not acknowledge that some people who fail to make informed career and business choices have gained wealth. IRRELEVANT.....

Statistics says if two events correlate it can be three possibilities:
-event 1 can cause event 2
-event 2 can cause event 1
-event 3 can cause event 1 and 2
it can justify answers choice D, but I personally selected A because it also fits the assumption

If you look closely, option A is an assumption. Now when you try to negate A is says "that some highly educated people make informed career and business choices." which actually goes in line with the conclusion that says "that gaining wealth is largely the result of making informed career and business choices" (Not "entirely"). The negated A does not destroy the conclusion.

The argument is between luck and wealth not wealth and education. Answer is D clearly.

Typical correlation --> causation flaw in reasoning. Answer choice D.

A is wrong because the statement is beyond scope. The passage states likelihood while the answer choice indicates absolution.
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D for me. Argument says good health is education and not luck. He shows this by providing evidence of a research stating tha informed lifestyle choices and good health have high correlation.

What if luck were to decide your education as well? That's what D says. Hence it weakens the argument.

Experts let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

Sent from my SM-G920I using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

A - Too extreme
B - Out of scope. The criticism talks about inherited diseases, something that the stem does not talk about
C - If informed lifestyle choices were available, wouldn't everyone be healthy?
D - Cause and effect may be the same source. Hold with this option
E - The stem only speaks about healthy people making informed lifestyle choices. Hence, out of scope

D fits the most!

Doesn't the argument mean only educated people make informed lifestyle decisions?

High Education Level \(α\) Good health
Research : Informed lifestyle choices---->Good health

Among the given options only (D) fits in...



Only X , modifier, restricts the scope of the statement to include only educated people , which is incorrect...
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D. overlooks the possibility that the same thing may causally contribute both to education and to good health

What does the 'same thing' mean?
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Imo D overlooks the possibility that the same thing may causally contribute both to education and to gaining wealth is our answer .
From the argument we can infer X and Y leads to Z , but it overlooks the fact that Z can also lead to X and Z .
Hence option d is correct .

Hi Arvind,
I found both A & D to support the argument. How did you eliminate option A? Is not option A the assumption, and the assumption acts a strengthener. Please help me to understand how is A incorrect?

See the word 'Largely' = It does not go with the meaning of 'Only'.Largely means most of the times though not all the time.'Only' has a different meaning.Hence A is incorrect.