Hi
adkikaniI will try to help you.
See below my explanations and let me know if they are of any help.
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Which one of the following, if true, would best challenge the conclusion of the passage?
I need to weaken the conclusion.
You are absolutely correct.
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The “suicide wave” that followed the United States stock market crash of October 1929 is more legend than fact. Careful examination of the monthly figures on the causes of death in 1929 shows that the number of suicides in October and in November was comparatively low. In only three other months were the monthly figures lower. During the summer months, when the stock market was flourishing, the number of suicides was substantially higher.
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The “suicide wave” that followed the United States stock market crash of October 1929 is more legend than fact.
I took this as a fact, or a background information.
As per my view, the author is exaggerating the after-effects of the market crash of Oct in the year 1929
While solving the question, I took this as the conclusion. It is not a fact, but an inference that the author draws and later defends in the argument.
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Careful examination of the monthly figures on the causes of death in 1929 shows that the number of suicides in October and in November was comparatively low. In only three other months were the monthly figures lower. During the summer months, when the stock market was flourishing, the number of suicides was substantially higher.
Author here tries to support his inference with facts. He mentions some facts.
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I could not understand what is going on here.
Careful examination of the monthly figures on the causes of death in 1929 shows that the number of suicides in October and in November was comparatively low.
We dont know which average is the author talking about ? Perhaps the yearly average perhaps not. we need to read further to understand this.
In only three other months were the monthly figures lowerWhatever this average was, we know that in total only 5 months fall below the average.
During the summer months, when the stock market was flourishing, the number of suicides was substantially higher.Author uses this fact deduce that there must be some reason of suicides other than stock market crash, a the no of suicides were more when the stock was still flourishing.
I like the answer choices in this question, they are spread wide apart in terms of reasoning.
(A) The suicide rate is influenced by many psychological, interpersonal, and societal factors during any given historical period.
This lists factors which influence the suicide rate. I was not able to make out if this actually weakens the conclusion, so kept it as a contender.(B) October and November have almost always had relatively high suicide rates, even during the 1920s and 1930s.
Strengthens the conclusion. drop it.(C) The suicide rate in October and November of 1929 was considerably higher than the average for those months during several preceding and following years.
This somewhat hints at our confusion, that the actual suicide in the preceding years was much less and it actually rose in October and November. Solid reasoning to prove author wrong. Keep it.(D) During the years surrounding the stock market crash, suicide rates were typically lower at the beginning of any calendar year than toward the end of that year.
but we dont know what happens in the middle of the year. this choice neither weakens nor strengthens. Drop it.(E) Because of seasonal differences, the number of suicides in October and November of 1929 would not be expected to be the same as those for other months.
ok. so what should we expect ? to increase or decrease ? No answer. Drop it.So we are left it 2 contenders. A and C.
If you look at both of them, obviously C is a better choice.