At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, epidemiologists rec

Question

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, epidemiologists recently proved that sandwiches, even if left in refrigerators, can become infested with viruses that cause illness. They found that infestation usually occurs after sandwiches have been left for seven weeks. For that reason, people should discard leftover sandwiches at least once every seven weeks.

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the conclusion provided?

(A) The epidemiologists could not understand why infestation happened only after sandwiches were left for seven weeks, and not before.

(B) The epidemiologists did not research possible infestation of sandwiches by bacteria, bugs, and other pathogenic organisms.

(C) The epidemiologists found that, among people who ate sandwiches infested with viruses, the infection rate was no higher than among people who did not eat infested sandwiches.

(D) The epidemiologists discovered that eaters who irradiated their sandwiches in a microwave thoroughly and sterilized the eating area were as likely to have infested sandwiches as were people who only dusted off their sandwiches.

(E) The epidemiologists discovered that, for sandwiches left in the refrigerator for nine weeks, being left for longer durations did not correlate with a higher number of viruses being present.

Boho · Answer

(A) The epidemiologists could not understand why infestation happened only after sandwiches were left for seven weeks, and not before.
Reason is not so important to know

(B) The epidemiologists did not research possible infestation of sandwiches by bacteria, bugs, and other pathogenic organisms.
Irrelevant

(C) The epidemiologists found that, among people who ate sandwiches infested with viruses, the infection rate was no higher than among people who did not eat infested sandwiches.
Very strong statement against conclusion, how can scientist say infested sandwiches caused illness

(D) The epidemiologists discovered that eaters who irradiated their sandwiches in a microwave thoroughly and sterilized the eating area were as likely to have infested sandwiches as were people who only dusted off their sandwiches.
Irrelevant

(E) The epidemiologists discovered that, for sandwiches left in the refrigerator for nine weeks, being left for longer durations did not correlate with a higher number of viruses being present.
Severity could have increased or may be not, irrelevant

(C) is correct IMO

nayas96 · Answer

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, epidemiologists recently proved that sandwiches, even if left in refrigerators, can become infested with viruses that cause illness. They found that infestation usually occurs after sandwiches have been left for seven weeks. For that reason, people should discard leftover sandwiches at least once every seven weeks.

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the conclusion provided?

(A) The epidemiologists could not understand why infestation happened only after sandwiches were left for seven weeks, and not before.

(B) The epidemiologists did not research possible infestation of sandwiches by bacteria, bugs, and other pathogenic organisms.

(C) The epidemiologists found that, among people who ate sandwiches infested with viruses, the infection rate was no higher than among people who did not eat infested sandwiches.

(D) The epidemiologists discovered that eaters who irradiated their sandwiches in a microwave thoroughly and sterilized the eating area were as likely to have infested sandwiches as were people who only dusted off their sandwiches.

(E) The epidemiologists discovered that, for sandwiches left in the refrigerator for nine weeks, being left for longer durations did not correlate with a higher number of viruses being present.

KapTeacherEli

Can you please explain how option (C) is the correct option over here. In the above argument, the conclusion of the argument is the last line of the argument which states that " people should discard leftover sandwiches at least once every seven weeks. ". The reason the argument states this conclusion is because as per the studies it has been shown that  infestation occurs only after seven weeks . The author in the previous line mentions only about infestation in viruses. If my analysis of the above argument is correct, then the infection caused by infection caused by eating of these sandwiches by humans is irrelevant to the weakening of the argument. Rather option (B), which states that the investation die to bacteria, fungi and other pathological substances are not taken into consideration while saying that investation happens in seven weeks should be the weakener.

Bunuel   KarishmaB   egmat   nightblade354 
Kindly please provide your inputs regarding the same

nightblade354 · Answer

nayas96 , please skip Kaplan questions on verbal. Stick to OG and LSAT questions when practicing. These are official sources that will never have holes in their logic.

Posted from my mobile device

KarishmaB · Answer

Though I agree with what  nightblade354  said above, if faced with this question in the test, I would pick (C).

The point that is being made is that it gets infected with virus after seven weeks so the argument is concluding that people should discard sandwiches at least once every seven weeks. Why? Presumably because eating virus infested sandwiches could cause them to develop the related viral disease. If the virus were to have no impact on people then it wouldn't matter whether they discard their sandwiches within 7 weeks or not.

(A) The epidemiologists could not understand why infestation happened only after sandwiches were left for seven weeks, and not before.

Irrelevant why it happens this way.

(B) The epidemiologists did not research possible infestation of sandwiches by bacteria, bugs, and other pathogenic organisms.

Other bugs are irrelevant. Within our scope are virus only. The conclusion says "at least once every 7 weeks" (to account for the virus timeline). If other bugs infect earlier, it could be 2 times every 7 weeks or 3 times every 7 weeks etc. In either case, we are covered by saying "at least once". 
Had the conclusion said that people should keep their sandwiches and not throw them out for 7 weeks and should consume them in the seventh week too, then we would need to worry about whether it is safe to consume sandwiches for 7 weeks.

(C) The epidemiologists found that, among people who ate sandwiches infested with viruses, the infection rate was no higher than among people who did not eat infested sandwiches.

This shows that people eating virus infested sandwiches are not getting sick because of them. The incidence of disease is the same. Then it seems that virus in sandwiches is not leading to disease. Then do we need to throw out sandwiches at least once every 7 weeks? May be not. At least not on account of the virus. 
This weakens our conclusion.

(D) The epidemiologists discovered that eaters who irradiated their sandwiches in a microwave thoroughly and sterilized the eating area were as likely to have infested sandwiches as were people who only dusted off their sandwiches.

Seems like throwing out the sandwiches is a good idea.

(E) The epidemiologists discovered that, for sandwiches left in the refrigerator for nine weeks, being left for longer durations did not correlate with a higher number of viruses being present.

Irrelevant. We are discussing upto 7 weeks vs later, not less than 9 weeks vs more than 9 weeks.

Answer (C)

VerbalBot · Answer

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At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, epidemiologists rec

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