Strengthen with Necessary Premise Questions - - Question 9
Despite improvements in treatment for asthma, the death rate from this disease has doubled during the past decade fro...
KonnerFebruary 19, 2019
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I was stuck between C and E and went with C because I thought the negation of C made the conlusion of the argument (the cause of the increase in death is do to bronichal inahlers) fall apart. I guess were suppose to assume that asnwer chioce C does not rule out the other two possible increases in deaths as answer choice E points out?
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Happy to help with this question. From what you wrote, it seems like you already identified a key point that helps to make Answer E to correct choice.
Answer C says bronchial inhalers are unsafe, even when used as recommended. This would support the argument, because its conclusion is that the use of bronchial inhalers caused the increased deaths. However, would this fact alone be enough to support the argument’s conclusion?
The argument effectively rules out urban pollution and lack of accurate historical data as a cause for the increased death rate from asthma. However, it quickly goes on to conclude that because it has eliminated these two alternative explanations, the explanation must be the use of bronchial inhalers. That assumes that there is no other possible explanation for the increased deaths. We can imagine any number of other possible explanations. In order for the argument’s conclusion to hold any water we must assume that the only three possible explanations for the increased deaths are: increased urban pollination, improved records, and use of bronchial inhalers. This is example what Answer E states. Therefore, it is the correct answer.
I hope this helps, but it sounds like you already got it figured out yourself. I hope this helps! Keep it up!
