For several centuries, physicians mistakenly believed that

Question

For several centuries, physicians mistakenly believed that  the consumption of animal fats was responsible for a surge in heart disease among Americans . Animal fats, doctors believed, were a precursor to the fat-like cholesterol found in the blood and heart. As cholesterol reaches dangerous levels, it clogs arteries that must be kept clear to prevent heart attacks.  Modern medical practitioners, however, have determined that animal fats, and specifically fats from fish, help to keep cholesterol levels low and prevent arterial clogging . Therefore, the true source of heart disease is still a medical mystery.

In the argument above, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A) The first is an opinion that the author attempts to refute; the second provides support for the author’s conclusion.
B) The first is a claim that the author accepts as valid; the second is evidence in support of that claim.
C) The first is a claim that the author accepts as valid; the second specifies a situation that the author posits as contrary to that claim.
D) The first is a claim that the author attempts to refute; the second is evidence presented as contrary to the author's claim.
E) The first is an assertion that the author believes to be untrue; the second is the author's conclusion.

lolxd123hahaha · Answer

OE
Identify the Question Type:

The words "two portions in boldface" leave no doubt that this is a Bolded Statement question. The correct answer will identify the roles, or functions, of the bolded statements within the stimulus.

Untangle the Stimulus:

Untangle the stimulus in a Bolded Statement question by identifying the purpose of each sentence in the stimulus. This will make it easier to predict the purpose of the two portions asked about. Here, the first sentence, which includes the first bolded portion, states a belief about the cause of heart disease from the past that the author says is incorrect. The next two sentences describe the reasoning behind that mistaken belief. The second bolded statement then describes modern findings, which contradict the belief from the past. The author uses these findings to support his bottom line in the last sentence - that the source of heart disease is still a mystery.

Predict the Answer:

The first bolded statement is the old belief that the author says is mistaken. The second is evidence that supports the author's view.

Evaluate the Answer Choices:

(A) matches the prediction and is the correct answer. The first statement describes the older opinion, which the author shows is mistaken. In other words, the author refutes that opinion. The second statement is used to support the author's bottom line, which appears in the last sentence.

(B) and (C) are incorrect because the author doesn't accept the first claim as valid.

(D) starts off well - the first is a claim that the author attempts to refute. However, the second statement is not evidence presented as contrary to the author‘s claim. In fact, it is presented to support the author’s claim.

(E) is wrong because the second bolded statement is not the author‘s conclusion. The author’s conclusion appears in the final sentence of the passage. The second bolded stated is evidence to support that conclusion.

TAKEAWAY: Predicting the answer on a Bolded Statement question will be very helpful when working through the choices. The best way to come up with a prediction is to untangle the stimulus by identifying the purpose of each sentence in the stimulus.

LamboWalker · Answer

Both the boldfaces, that are of opposite views, compound to make the author's conclusion plausible - what causes heart disease is still a mystery.

A) The first is an opinion that the author attempts to refute; the second provides support for the author’s conclusion.  Correct. The phrase 'mistakenly believed' indicates that the author is refuting the first boldface's claim. And the second part of this sentence also aligns with my prethinking. 
B)  The first is a claim that the author accepts as valid; the second is evidence in support of that claim.  Both statements are of opposing views. Cancel this.
C)  The first is a claim that the author accepts as valid; the second specifies a situation that the author posits as contrary to that claim.  The first is also not a claim that author accepts as valid.
D)  The first is a claim that the author attempts to refute; the second is evidence presented as contrary to the author's claim.  Second is not contrary to author's claim. Second is contrary to the claim of physicians from centuries ago. 
E)  The first is an assertion that the author believes to be untrue; the second is the author's conclusion.  Second is definitely not the conclusion.

Answer is A.

Kinshook · Answer

For several centuries, physicians mistakenly believed that  the consumption of animal fats was responsible for a surge in heart disease among Americans . Animal fats, doctors believed, were a precursor to the fat-like cholesterol found in the blood and heart. As cholesterol reaches dangerous levels, it clogs arteries that must be kept clear to prevent heart attacks.  Modern medical practitioners, however, have determined that animal fats, and specifically fats from fish, help to keep cholesterol levels low and prevent arterial clogging . Therefore, the true source of heart disease is still a medical mystery.

First boldface:  the consumption of animal fats was responsible for a surge in heart disease among Americans .
Second boldface:  Modern medical practitioners, however, have determined that animal fats, and specifically fats from fish, help to keep cholesterol levels low and prevent arterial clogging 
Conclusion: Therefore, the true source of heart disease is still a medical mystery.

First boldface is an opinion the author attempts to refute
Second boldface provides support for the author's conclusion

In the argument above, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A) The first is an opinion that the author attempts to refute; the second provides support for the author’s conclusion. 
B)  The first is a claim that the author accepts as valid ;  the second is evidence in support of that claim. 
C)  The first is a claim that the author accepts as valid ;  the second specifies a situation that the author posits as contrary to that claim. 
D)  The first is a claim that the author attempts to refute;   the second is evidence presented as contrary to the author's claim. 
E)  The first is an assertion that the author believes to be untrue;   the second is the author's conclusion.

IMO A

VerbalBot · Answer

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For several centuries, physicians mistakenly believed that

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For several centuries, physicians mistakenly believed that

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