A recently published article on human physiology claims that Enzyme

Question

A recently published article on human physiology claims that Enzyme K contributes to improved performance in strenuous activities such as weightlifting and sprinting. The Article cites evidence of above-average levels of enzyme K in Olympic weight lifters and sprinters.

Which of the following, if true,would most strengthen the article's conclusion?

A. Enzyme K levels are the most important factor affecting the performance of strenuous activities.

B. Enzyme K has no other function in the human body

C. Enzyme K is required for the performance of strenuous activities.

D. Enzyme K helps weight lifters more than it helps sprinters.

E. Strenuous activities do not cause the human body to produce unusually high levels of enzyme K

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dhart · Answer

A recently published article on human physiology claims that Enzyme K contributes to improved performance in strenuous activities such as weightlifting and sprinting. The Article cites evidence of above-average levels of enzyme K in Olympic weight lifters and sprinters.
So if it is present in hight levels in weight-lifters and sprinters then it willalso be required for doing strenous activities in day-today life. and hence enzyme K is required for the performance of strenuous activities. imo c.

LogicDriven · Answer

The correct answer is E.
By ruling out reverse causation (that the strenuous exercise itself is causing the high levels of Enzyme K), E strengthens the claim

gautamK0206 · Answer

The argument says,  Enzyme K contributes to improved performance in strenuous activities . And we need to strengthen it. On pre-thinking, we could also arrive at a relation where, we can think that, Enzyme K would have been produced as a result of the activity, and not the other way round. That could be a possibility. So, if we are able to somehow prove that's not the case, then we are able to satisfy this one way relation.
As per the option analysis,  E. Strenuous activities do not cause the human body to produce unusually high levels of enzyme K  does the required job. Hence, that's the correct answer.

counterclash1 · Answer

Correct Answer: (E)

GIVEN:
- Premise: Olympic athletes in strenuous sports have high Enzyme K levels.
- Conclusion: Enzyme K contributes to improved performance in strenuous activities.

PRE-THINKING:
- Causal Claim: Enzyme K -> Improved Performance.
- Required Strengthener: Rule out reverse causality (Strenuous activity -> High Enzyme K).

OPTIONS EVALUATION:
Choice (A) = Incorrect (Extreme word "most important"; claim only requires that it contributes)
Choice (B) = Incorrect (Irrelevant whether Enzyme K has other functions in the body)
Choice (C) = Incorrect (Irrelevant whether it is strictly "required"; claim is only about improvement)
Choice (D) = Incorrect (Relative comparison between lifters and sprinters is out of scope)
Choice (E) = Correct (Eliminates reverse causality, confirming Enzyme K is the cause, not the effect)

Conclusion: Answer Choice (E).

Vivek1707 · Answer

A. Saying K is an important factor doesn't tell us whether it improves performance.
B. K having no other function doesn't establish that it improves athletic performance.
C. “Required” is much stronger than “contributes to improved performance.” Something can be helpful without being necessary.
D. Whether K helps weightlifters more than sprinters isn't relevant. The claim covers both.
E. Correct If strenuous activity itself doesn't cause high K levels, then the high K levels found in these athletes are less likely to be a result of their training/performance. That makes it more plausible that K is actually contributing to their performance. This option removes the aspect of reverse causality and hence becomes a strengthener.

Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

E

Because the article claims that enzyme K caused better performance, this is an example of a causality argument-an "X causes Y" situation. The evidence is that Olympic weightlifters and sprinters have above-average levels of enzyme K. To strengthen it, we need to find a choice confirming that X (high levels of enzyme K) does in fact cause Y (better performance).

(A) is out of scope; the article is only concerned with enzyme K, not other factors affecting performance. (B) is irrelevant and uses extreme language. (C) distorts what the article claims; the article says only that enzyme K improves performance, not that it is required. (D) is an irrelevant comparison; both weightlifters and sprinters are presented as equal evidence. (E) states that increased levels of enzyme K are not the result of strenuous activity; this strengthens the conclusion than enzyme K contributes to better performance because the enzyme is found in people who excel at strenuous activities but is not produced by the strenuous activity. Its presence must therefore help performance. If (E) were not true, strenuous activity could actually be causing the increased enzyme levels, and the argument would be weakened because it reversed cause and effect.

A recently published article on human physiology claims that Enzyme

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A recently published article on human physiology claims that Enzyme