In a transportation company, a certain syndrome often attributed to stress by medical experts afflicts a significantly higher percentage of workers in Department F than in any other department. We can conclude, therefore, that the work done in Department F subjects workers to higher stress levels than does the work in the other departments in the company. Which one of the following, if true, most helps to support the argument?The argument moves from a higher rate of a stress-related syndrome in Department F to the conclusion that Department F work causes higher stress.
The needed support is evidence that workers develop the syndrome after entering Department F, not merely that people with the syndrome happen to be concentrated there.
(A) Department F has more employees than any other department in the company.
This does not help. The argument is based on a higher percentage of workers, not a higher number of workers.
(B) Some experts believe that the syndrome can be caused by various factors, only one of which is high stress.
This weakens rather than supports the argument. It gives possible causes other than stress.
(C) Many workers who transfer into Department F from elsewhere in the company soon begin to develop the syndrome.
This is correct. If workers from other departments develop the syndrome soon after moving into Department F, that supports the idea that something about Department F’s work environment is causing the syndrome, and stress is a plausible cause.
(D) It is relatively common for workers in the transportation industry to suffer from the syndrome.
This does not explain why Department F has a significantly higher percentage than the other departments in the same company.
(E) Job-related stress has been the most frequently cited cause for dissatisfaction among workers at the company.
This is too general. It shows that stress exists in the company, but it does not show that Department F has higher stress than other departments.
Answer: (C)