This is a bizarro strengthen question. Therefore, the correct answer choice will be the only answer choice which does not strengthen the argument made in the passage. Incorrect answers will strengthen the argument.
The passage begins by telling us that the death rate from asthma has doubled during the past decade despite improvements in treatment.
There are two possible explanations for this, but the author of the passage prefers a third alternate explanation.
Explanation 1 - recording of deaths from asthma has become more widespread and accurate
Explanation 2 - increase in urban pollution
Explanation 3 - use of bronchial inhalers for symptom relief
Why does the author prefer the third explanation? Because death rates from asthma have increased even in cities with long-term accurate medical records and little to no urban pollution. This means that at least some cities which have seen increases in deaths from asthma are not covered by explanations 1 or 2.
Answer choice (E) is incorrect because it supports the author's alternative explanation. Deaths from asthma have increased over the last decade. If bronchial inhalers were not available a decade ago, it is possible that their introduction caused the increase in deaths over the past decade.
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