Bunuel wrote:
Two groups of laboratory mice were injected with cancerous cells. One group’s cages were rotated in a disorienting manner. Two-thirds of these mice developed cancers. One-tenth of the mice in stationary cages developed cancers. The researchers concluded that stress enhances the development of cancer in laboratory mice.
The researchers’ conclusion logically depends on which of the following assumptions?
(A) Rotating the cages in disorienting manner produced stress in the mice in those cages.
(B) The injections given to the two groups of mice were not of equal strength.
(C) Injecting the mice with cancerous cells caused stress in the mice.
(D) Even without the injections the mice in the rotated cages would have developed cancers.
(E) Even the rotation of cages in a manner that is not disorienting is likely to produce stress in mice in those cages.
+1 for APrethinking: One group’s cages were rotated in a disorienting manner and more number of mice in this group developed cancer compared to the group whose cage was not rotated. Researches concluded that stress enhances the development of cancer. This means the rotation of cage caused stress in mice.
(A) Rotating the cages in disorienting manner produced stress in the mice in those cages.
- Correct. This is inline with our Pre thinking(B) The injections given to the two groups of mice were not of equal strength.
- Incorrect. This actually weakens the conclusion(C) Injecting the mice with cancerous cells caused stress in the mice.
- Incorrect. If injecting itself caused stress then the group's cage which was rotated wouldn't get more cancer.(D) Even without the injections the mice in the rotated cages would have developed cancers.
- Incorrect. Out of scope(E) Even the rotation of cages in a manner that is not disorienting is likely to produce stress in mice in those cages
- Incorrect. Out of scope _________________
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