A recently published article on human physiology claims that Enzyme K

Question

A recently published article on human physiology claims that Enzyme K contributes to improved performance in strenuous activities such as weightlifting and sprinting. The Article cites evidence of above-average levels of enzyme K in Olympic weight lifters and sprinters.

Which of the following, if true,would most strengthen the article's conclusion?

A. Enzyme K levels are the most important factor affecting the performance of strenuous activities.

B. Enzyme K has no other function in the human body

C. Enzyme K is required for the performance of strenuous activities.

D. Enzyme K helps weight lifters more than it helps sprinters.

E. Strenuous activities do not cause the human body to produce unusually high levels of enzyme K

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mayankdgmat · Answer

IMO E

Conclusion: enzyme k contributes to improved performance.

A. Enzyme K levels are the most important factor affecting the performance of strenuous activities.

it is important factor in affecting the performance but we don't know it affect positively or negatively.

B. Enzyme K has no other function in the human body

It doesn't strengthen that weather it improves the performance

C. Enzyme K is required for the performance of strenuous activities.

But does it improve performance?

D. Enzyme K helps weight lifters more than it helps sprinters.

Irrelevant

E. Strenuous activities do not cause the human body to produce unusually high levels of enzyme K

It reject reverse relationship hence strengthening our case

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Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

E

Because the article claims that enzyme K caused better performance, this is an example of a causality argument-an "X causes Y" situation. The evidence is that Olympic weightlifters and sprinters have above-average levels of enzyme K. To strengthen it, we need to find a choice confirming that X (high levels of enzyme K) does in fact cause Y (better performance).

(A) is out of scope; the article is only concerned with enzyme K, not other factors affecting performance. (B) is irrelevant and uses extreme language. (C) distorts what the article claims; the article says only that enzyme K improves performance, not that it is required. (D) is an irrelevant comparison; both weightlifters and sprinters are presented as equal evidence. (E) states that increased levels of enzyme K are not the result of strenuous activity; this strengthens the conclusion than enzyme K contributes to better performance because the enzyme is found in people who excel at strenuous activities but is not produced by the strenuous activity. Its presence must therefore help performance. If (E) were not true, strenuous activity could actually be causing the increased enzyme levels, and the argument would be weakened because it reversed cause and effect.

dhruva09 · Answer

Bunuel  I still do not understand, how is this strengthening the given conclusion. I understand it reverses the cause-effect, but failing to understand the key link of it being a strengthener.

chloreton · Answer

Enzyme K (A) causes improved performance in strenuous activities (B).

We need to strengthen the above. 
There are 3 types of strengthener for A causes B :

1. B does not cause A
2. C does not cause B 
3. C does not cause both A&B.

Option E does the role of 1.
 Therefore E

A recently published article on human physiology claims that Enzyme K

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