Since the 1960s, most drinking water provided by public water systems

Question

Since the 1960s, most drinking water provided by public water systems has had fluoride added, because research has demonstrated that adding fluoride to drinking water significantly reduces the occurrence of dental cavities in the populations served by those systems. However, manufacturers now add fluoride to toothpaste in amounts sufficient to provide the same level of protection against dental cavities as that provided by fluoridated water. Therefore, public water systems could now save the money formerly spent on water fluoridation without impacting the rate of occurrence of dental cavities in the communities they serve.

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument?

A. The savings realized by public water systems would not be passed on to their customers but would be used for maintenance of and improvements to the system.

B. The cost of adding fluoride to toothpaste is much less than the cost of adding fluoride to the water produced by public water systems.

C. Fluoride is a commodity traded throughout the world, and the availability and price of fluoride can vary substantially due to economic and political events.

D. Fluoride toothpaste has been widely available since 1980, and recent studies have found higher levels of dental cavities in communities with unfluoridated water than in communities with fluoridated water.

E. Fluoride is colorless, odorless, and tasteless when added to water, but flavorings are added to fluoride toothpaste to deliver a taste that most people describe as pleasant.

yashikaaggarwal · Answer

The passage is concluding that the public water system could save money from not adding fluorine in water as toothpastes nowadays include fluorine in it.

C is weakening the argument stating that the <<<< "Fluoride is a commodity traded throughout the world, and the availability and price of fluoride can vary substantially due to economic and political events.">>>
Which states that the cost of fluorine is substantial, which may not save such significant money even if the public water system stop adding fluorine in water.

IMO C

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debjit1990 · Answer

A. The savings realized by public water systems would not be passed on to their customers but would be used for maintenance of and improvements to the system.
 Irrelevant.we are concerned about the dental cavity 
B. The cost of adding fluoride to toothpaste is much less than the cost of adding fluoride to the water produced by public water systems. Somehow strengtheining

C. Fluoride is a commodity traded throughout the world, and the availability and price of fluoride can vary substantially due to economic and political events. out of scope

D. Fluoride toothpaste has been widely available since 1980, and recent studies have found higher levels of dental cavities in communities with unfluoridated water than in communities with fluoridated water. Correct

◦Fluoride is colorless, odorless, and tasteless when added to water, but flavorings are added to fluoride toothpaste to deliver a taste that most people describe as pleasant.  out of scope

yashikaaggarwal · Answer

I still think answer is C as the passage is saying that the fluorine is mixed in toothpastes fulfilling the need of fluorine in water.
Moreover saving cost is the issue here. As if the cost of fluorine is substantial the value saved by not adding fluorine won't be of significant amount.

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madhsivalenka · Answer

The conclusion states that - 
 
The author is relating the amount of money saved by not flourinating water to the rate of occurrences of dental cavities. If we can find an option which specifies that the amount of money saved is  NOT  reducing the occurrences of dental cavities, we can weaken the argument.

Option D does that - 
 
By not flourinating the water, public water systems are saving money, but the occurrences of dental cavities are still are not reducing.

Option C talks about just the cost of flouride, and nothing about the rate of occurrences of dental cavities.

agarwalankur · Answer

A. The savings realized by public water systems would not be passed on to their customers but would be used for maintenance of and improvements to the system. - Out of Scope

B. The cost of adding fluoride to toothpaste is much less than the cost of adding fluoride to the water produced by public water systems. - Strengthening as toothpaste is shown as cost effective

C. Fluoride is a commodity traded throughout the world, and the availability and price of fluoride can vary substantially due to economic and political events. -Trading doesn't weaken the argument

D. Fluoride toothpaste has been widely available since 1980, and recent studies have found higher levels of dental cavities in communities with unfluoridated water than in communities with fluoridated water. - Directly attacks the conclusion. Correct

E. Fluoride is colorless, odorless, and tasteless when added to water, but flavorings are added to fluoride toothpaste to deliver a taste that most people describe as pleasant. Out of Scope

NitishJain · Answer

I think  D  could be the correct answer.

My analysis:
A: Irrelevant
B: this will strengthen the statement that more money will be saved by using alternate source to supplements the need for fluoride
C: Fluoride is currently added in water and now due to the availability of fluoride in toothpaste, public water systems can save money. We are not concern about the availability
D: It adds additional information about survey which supports that if fluoride is present in water, # of dental cavities patients are less
E: Passage does not talk about characteristics of fluoride

D4498 · Answer

Since the 1960s, most drinking water provided by public water systems has had fluoride added, because research has demonstrated that adding fluoride to drinking water significantly reduces the occurrence of dental cavities in the populations served by those systems. However, manufacturers now add fluoride to toothpaste in amounts sufficient to provide the same level of protection against dental cavities as that provided by fluoridated water. Therefore, public water systems could now  save the money formerly spent on water fluoridation   without impacting the rate of occurrence  of dental cavities in the communities they serve.
  PRE -THINKING

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument?

A. The savings realized by public water systems would not be passed on to their customers but would be used for maintenance of and improvements to the system.  irrelevant,savings passing to customers doesnt weaken

B. The cost of adding fluoride to toothpaste is much less than the cost of adding fluoride to the water produced by public water systems.  comparison of cost is irrelevant,doesnt weaken

C. Fluoride is a commodity traded throughout the world, and the availability and price of fluoride can vary substantially due to economic and political events.  we have to weaken the assumption stated above.

D. Fluoride toothpaste has been widely available since 1980, and recent studies have found higher levels of dental cavities in communities with unfluoridated water than in communities with fluoridated water.  correct

E. Fluoride is colorless, odorless, and tasteless when added to water, but flavorings are added to fluoride toothpaste to deliver a taste that most people describe as pleasant.  irrelevant

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VerbalBot · Answer

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Since the 1960s, most drinking water provided by public water systems

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