In a certain state, the rate at which inhabitants of City X contract

Question

In a certain state, the rate at which inhabitants of City X contract a certain disease is significantly lower than the rate at which inhabitants of City Y contract the disease. So if a couple originally from City Y relocates to City X and raises a family there, their children will be significantly less likely to contract this disease than they would have been if the
family had remained in City Y.

Which of the following statements, if true, would most significantly strengthen the conclusion drawn in the passage?

A. The rate at which inhabitants of City X contract the disease will increase as the overall population of City X increases.

B. In contrast to City Y, City X is characterized by an abundance of environmental factors that tend to inhibit the occurrence of the disease.

C. 23% of those inhabitants of City Y who move to City X live beyond the average life span of native inhabitants of City X.

D. Over the last 2 decades, the incidence of the disease has decreased in City Y but has remained unchanged in City X.

E. Studies indicate that the incidence of the disease among inhabitants of City X who move to City Y is roughly equal to that of inhabitants of City X who remain in CityX.

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heyybhargav · Answer

B is the correct answer, since it is the only one that differentiates between X and Y

Shwarma · Answer

Option B

City Y couple move to X to raise a family there to reduce contracting disease to kids.
Strengthen:
A,E- weaken; C,D- irrelevant to the conclusion

Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

B

This question picks up on the same stimulus seen in Question 39. The key assumption is that environmental factors in City X are responsible for the low incidence of the disease in that city. To strengthen the argument, we need to find the choice that confirms this assumption. And that is what (B) does.

(A) suggests that an increase in population will increase the rate of the disease. This would suggest that newcomers would be more, not less, likely to contract the disease. (C) is too general, speaking of lifespan and not the specific disease in question. (D) is irrelevant; the fact remains that the incidence in City Y is still significantly higher than in City X. (E) would weaken the argument. If City X inhabitants show the same resistance to the disease even in City Y, the reason for their immunity must be inherent-probably genetic, not environmental.

VerbalBot · Answer

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In a certain state, the rate at which inhabitants of City X contract

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In a certain state, the rate at which inhabitants of City X contract

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