The number of carcinogens produced in a country increases as the count

Question

The number of carcinogens produced in a country increases as the country becomes more industrialized, and, as a result, the incidence of cancer in such countries is increasing even faster.

Of the following, which, if true, provides the LEAST evidence in support of the claim about the increasing incidence of cancer in an industrialized country?

A. As the number of carcinogens in a country doubles, the area affected by carcinogens becomes four times as large.
B. Some cancers will not occur unless levels of the carcinogens are sufficiently high.
C. The financial pressure of increasing industrialization causes competing industries to produce a wider variety of carcinogens.
D. Some of the most potent carcinogens tend not to be produced until a country becomes more industrialized.
E. Increases in the incidence of cancer correlate to increases in the percentage, not the number, of carcinogens in the environment.

MidhilaMohan · Answer

I could eliminate A C and D. But Was confused between B and E. How is it that B is not the correct answer? Can someone help? GMATNinja

globaldesi · Answer

even i had same confusion.
but when you compare B and E 
you realize that E is a stronger contender as E somehow explains that it is no always necessary that increase in number of carcinogens will increase number of cancer cases

prashanths · Answer

I was also quite confused between B and E.

But B says SOME cancers will not occur - but other types of cancer can.

So, E is the better choice between the two.

blowice27 · Answer

OE:

Conclusion: The incidence of cancer in countries that are becoming more industrialized is increasing even faster.

Premise: The number of carcinogens produced in a country increases as the country becomes more industrialized.

Assumption: There is a direct correlation between the number of carcinogens produced in a country and the increasing incidence of cancer.

This is a strengthen question, as evidenced by the phrase of the following, which…provides the…evidence in support of the claim. However, this is a LEAST question. Therefore, the correct answer choice will strengthen the argument less than the other answer choices. The passage uses the premise that the number of carcinogens produced in a country increases as the country becomes more industrialized in order to conclude that the incidence of cancer in such countries is increasing even faster.

In order to provide the LEAST evidence in support of the claim, the correct answer choice should be either out of scope, contain extreme language, or weaken the argument. If multiple answers contain these flaws, the choice that weakens the argument is likely to least support the claim that the incidence of cancer in such countries is increasing even faster. Evaluate the answer choices, looking for one that reflects this idea.

Choice A: No. The fact that the area affected by carcinogens becomes four times as large strengthens the claim that the incidence of cancer in such countries is increasing even faster.

Choice B: No. The fact that Some cancers will not occur unless levels of the carcinogens are sufficiently high strengthens the claim that the incidence of cancer in such countries is increasing even faster. This choice further establishes the correlation between the number of carcinogens and the incidence of cancer.

Choice C: No. The fact that increasing industrialization causes competing industries to produce a wider variety of carcinogens may strengthen the claim that the incidence of cancer in such countries is increasing even faster as the country becomes more industrialized.

Choice D: No. The fact that Some of the most potent carcinogens tend not to be produced until a country becomes more industrialized may strengthen the claim that the incidence of cancer in such countries is increasing even faster as the country becomes more industrialized.

Choice E: Correct. The fact that Increases in the incidence of cancer correlate to increases in the percentage, not the number, of carcinogens weakens the claim that the incidence of cancer in such countries is increasing even faster as the country becomes more industrialized, because the premise discusses the number of carcinogens not the percentage of carcinogens.

The correct answer is choice E.

avikroy · Answer

But B says nothing about number of carcinogens..... rather it states levels of carcinogens as sufficiently high.............How is it strengthening the argument??

agreed that E" discusses percentage and not number and is the answer. B also discusses high levels.........

VerbalBot · Answer

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The number of carcinogens produced in a country increases as the count

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The number of carcinogens produced in a country increases as the count

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