The coastal state of Louiseville boasts of an average life expectancy

Question

The coastal state of Louiseville boasts of an average life expectancy of 77 years which is significantly higher than that of the hinterland state of Missouville, a state which is a predominantly agrarian economy. The environmental and external health factors positively affecting the human life-span are found in great abundance in the coastal areas. Therefore, if a newly married couple want to start their family with the hope that their offspring have a longer life-expectancy, they should prefer Louiseville to Missouville.

Which of the following most seriously weakens the argument?

A. A person's life span is usually determined by the combined impact of shared genetics and environmental factors.

B. Currently an agrarian economy, Louiseville is on its way to fast becoming an industrial state with all the side-effects of industrialization that negatively impact the mentioned environmental factors.

C. Children born outside Missouville to couples originally from Missouville have displayed no difference in life-span from the children born in Missouville.

D. A few of the children to people originally from Louiseville but who moved out before their children were born, displayed a significantly longer life span than some of the children to couples who stayed within Louiseville.

E. Migrating poses serious economic problems for couples who are setting up homes and starting families away from their native place.

mliv · Answer

I know this is usually not part of CR, but Louiseville is (according to the text above)  not  an agrarian economy. Is this just a mix up?

Thanks.

Tantheta · Answer

Unable to distinguish between A and B. Can someone help?

rosalynd · Answer

Well, if you're trying to decide whether to move to Louiseville or Missouville to increase your kids' life expectancy, then answer B is definitely a cause for concern. It says that Louiseville is becoming more industrialized, which could mean that the positive environmental factors that were contributing to the higher life expectancy might not be around for much longer. On the other hand, answer A is just a general statement about how genetics and environment both play a role in life expectancy, but it doesn't really address the argument directly. So, I'd say B is the better choice for weakening the argument.

imad9196 · Answer

Can someone please help me with option C. I think it is a good weakener.

BusinessAdmin · Answer

Option B states that Louiseville is an agrarian economy whereas passage states that Missssouville is a predominantly agrarian. Does this option contradict the facts of the passage? If so, then would not Option C be the best weakner? Please explain.

Yugi251098 · Answer

The prompt says "a newly married couple" therefore, C would not be the correct option. It would be a weakener if the couple were from missouvile.

Option B gives a reason for any couple not to move to louiseville.

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The coastal state of Louiseville boasts of an average life expectancy

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

The coastal state of Louiseville boasts of an average life expectancy

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