The mortality rate among married men is significantly lower than that of single men in the same age group. Because of that statistic, some may argue that
married men lead safer lifestyles and do not frequently engage in risky hobbies. However, this inference is faulty since the
causes of death for married and single men are not established and there are factors other than accidents related to high-risk activities that contribute to the mortality rate of both groups.
In the argument above, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?
A. The first states a position that is based upon evidence provided in the argument; the second offers evidence that undermines the weight of that position.
B. The first is evidence that supports the conclusion of the argument; the second is that conclusion.
C. The first states a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second provides evidence in support of that position.
D. The first and the second each provide evidence in support of the position that the argument seeks to establish.
E. The first is a premise upon which the argument depends; the second provides evidence that the argument is faulty