Doctor: It would benefit public health if junk food were taxed. Not on

Question

Doctor: It would benefit public health if junk food were taxed. Not only in this country but in many other countries as well, the excessive proportion of junk food in people's diets contributes to many common and serious health problems. If junk food were much more expensive than healthful food, people would be encouraged to make dietary changes that would reduce these problems.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion drawn in the doctor's argument?

(A) Taxing junk food would benefit public health.
(B) In many countries, the excessive proportion of junk food in people 's diets contributes to many common and serious health problems.
(C) If junk food were much more expensive than healthful food, people would be encouraged to make dietary changes that would reduce many common and serious health problems.
(D) Taxing junk food would encourage people to reduce the proportion of junk food in their diets.
(E) Junk food should be taxed if doing so would benefit public health.

Source: LSAT

Princ · Answer

OA : A

(A) Taxing junk food would benefit public health.
  Correct choice:    Author has stated this conclusion in first sentence, after that Author is providing premise to support his/her conclusion  
(B) In many countries, the excessive proportion of junk food in people 's diets contributes to many common and serious health problems.
   Premise  
(C) If junk food were much more expensive than healthful food, people would be encouraged to make dietary changes that would reduce many common and serious health problems.
   Premise  
(D) Taxing junk food would encourage people to reduce the proportion of junk food in their diets.
   Inference, as not stated directly in passage  
(E) Junk food should be taxed if doing so would benefit public health.
   Trap, it has same key words as A , but  should  and  if  are diluting and changing the meaning

divyaxoxo · Answer

This simple problem actually got me confused. Funny! I thought 'A' is shell type choice, so 'C' is better, but turns out otherwise. I did identify quickly that first line is the conclusion, still. Anyway, got to not take simple questions casually.

gvij2017 · Answer

Please clear my doubt cloud that I can strike off the answer choice which is premise of given stimulus of Must-be-True question.
You have crossed off B & C on above mentioned basis.

anupam87 · Answer

(A) Taxing junk food would benefit public health. –  Correct. Concludes reducing overall consumption of junk food would benefit public health.  
(B) In many countries, the excessive proportion of junk food in people 's diets contribute to many common and serious health problems. –  this just restates the premise.  
(C) If junk food were much more expensive than healthful food, people would be encouraged to make dietary changes that would reduce many common and serious health problems.  – This doesn’t establish any correlation between reduction in consumption and public health. Moreover it is restating the premise.  
(D) Taxing junk food would encourage people to reduce the proportion of junk food in their diets. –  this is more of an assumption than conclusion.  
(E) Junk food should be taxed if doing so would benefit public health. –  this is changing the meaning

Princ · Answer

gvij2017 
You can eliminate the options which are stating the premise in Must be true type questions,if the question is asking for conclusion of the argument.

saury2k · Answer

I got the answer right, but was confused till the end. What is the best way to approach these kind of questions.

VerbalBot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot: 

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

 This post was generated automatically.

Doctor: It would benefit public health if junk food were taxed. Not on

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Doctor: It would benefit public health if junk food were taxed. Not on

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards