Bunuel
Many energy bars contain vitamin supplements. Some of these bars provide 100% of the recommended daily vitamin consumption amounts. Nevertheless, a well-balanced meal, including a variety of food types, is a better source of vitamins than eating energy bars alone.
Which of the following, if true, would most strongly support the position above?
A. People who regularly eat energy bars that contain vitamin supplements often neglect to eat foods that contain these vitamins naturally.
B. Energy bars that contain vitamin supplements are as easy to digest as similar energy bars that do not contain vitamin supplements.
C. In many kinds of foods, the natural combination of vitamins with other nutrients results in these vitamins' higher usability to the body than the vitamin supplements that energy bars contain.
D. Few meals, as balanced and varied as they may be, provide the body with 100% of the recommended daily vitamin consumption amounts.
E. Energy bars containing vitamin supplements come in a variety of flavors and sizes.
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
Many energy bars contain vitamin supplements. Some of these bars provide 100% of the recommended daily vitamin consumption amounts. Nevertheless, a well-balanced meal, including a variety of food types, is a better source of vitamins than eating energy bars alone.
Which of the following, if true, would most strongly support the position above?A. People who regularly eat energy bars that contain vitamin supplements often neglect to eat foods that contain these vitamins naturally.
Incorrect.
To solve this Conclusion Strengthening question, first break down the argument. The first two sentences are premises providing factual data. The last sentence is a judgment put forward by the author and should be treated as the argument's conclusion:
Premise A: many energy bars contain vitamins that have been added to them
+
Premise B: some energy bars contain all the vitamins a person should consume in a day
=
Conclusion: eating an actual meal with a few kinds of foods is better than eating an energy bar
Possible assumption: there is something about "real" food that makes it healthier to eat than an energy bar
Strengthening Data: ?
You are required to find data that strengthens the conclusion that an actual well-balanced meal is better than an energy bar. The correct answer could be one that confirms the argument's assumption.
This answer choice neither strengthens nor weakens the conclusion. The reason for which energy bars replace natural foods does not help us determine whether natural foods are healthier than energy bars.B. Energy bars that contain vitamin supplements are as easy to digest as similar energy bars that do not contain vitamin supplements.
Incorrect.
This answer choice neither strengthens nor weakens the conclusion. The conclusion favors a meal over an energy bar, so the correct answer should highlight an advantage of a meal over an energy bar, or a disadvantage of an energy bar. However, this answer choice compares two types of energy bars.C. In many kinds of foods, the natural combination of vitamins with other nutrients results in these vitamins' higher usability to the body than the vitamin supplements that energy bars contain.
This answer choice confirms the argument's assumption. Although the premises provide positive data about energy bars, the author concludes that actual meals are better. Therefore, by presenting an advantage that natural foods have over energy bars, this answer choice strengthens the author's position.D. Few meals, as balanced and varied as they may be, provide the body with 100% of the recommended daily vitamin consumption amounts.
Incorrect.
To solve this Conclusion Strengthening question, first break down the argument. The first two sentences are premises providing factual data. The last sentence is a judgment put forward by the author and should be treated as the argument's conclusion:
Premise A: many energy bars contain vitamins that have been added to them
+
Premise B: some energy bars contain all the vitamins a person should consume in a day
=
Conclusion: eating an actual meal with a few kinds of foods is better than eating an energy bar
Possible assumption: there is something about "real" food that makes it healthier to eat than an energy bar
Strengthening Data: ?
You are required to find data that strengthens the conclusion that an actual well-balanced meal is better than an energy bar. The correct answer could be one that confirms the argument's assumption.
This answer choice actually weakens the conclusion as it states an advantage of energy bars that contain vitamin supplements over a meal. However, you were asked to strengthen the author's conclusion, which favors the natural meals.E. Energy bars containing vitamin supplements come in a variety of flavors and sizes.
Incorrect.
This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion - the variety of energy bar products is irrelevant to our task. The conclusion favors a meal over an energy bar, so the correct answer should highlight an advantage of a meal over an energy bar, or a disadvantage of an energy bar.