The mind and the immune system have been shown to be intimately linked, and scientists are consistently finding that ...
AnkitMFebruary 9, 2016
Why can't answer choice E be correct?
If WBC are stimulated by beneficial chemicals as a result of magnanimity, then be true that WBC are increase radically as well? Since if the cells are being stimulated they are also being increased? Doesn't the passage support that 100%? Answer D just states that it's beneficial to ones own interests. Isn't that too broad?
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@AnkitM (E) states, "the number of white blood cells will increase radically if behavior is consistently magnanimous."
This is not directly supported by the information presented in the stimulus. First, we are not given any information about the NUMBER of white bloods increasing radically. All we have been told is that "the ACTIVITY of these white blood cells is stimulated by beneficial chemicals produced by the brain as a result of magnanimous behavior."
Let's take a look at (D), which states "magnanimity is beneficial to one's own interests."
This is directly supported by the following statements:
"...scientists are consistently finding that doing good deeds benefits one's immune system."
"The bone marrow and spleen, which produce the white blood cells needed to fight infection..."
"Recent research has shown that the activity of these white blood cells is stimulated by beneficial chemicals produced by the brain as a result of magnanimous behavior."
Hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Madelyn-LuskeyJuly 8, 2018
It's also confusing why (D) is the correct answer given the fact that you can eliminate (B) because the passage neither mentions magnanimity as the cause of most serious illnesses nor magnanimity being beneficial to one's own interests.
ChristopherJuly 30, 2018
@Madelyn-Luskey, magnanimity is tied to the production of beneficial chemicals in the brain that stimulate white blood cells and boost a person's immune system. You can tie magnanimity logically to the discussion about a person's overall health, and doing something that makes a person healthier is certainly within their best interest.
The reason (B) is wrong is that nothing in the question suggests that the lack of magnanimous activity causes disease - only that magnanimous activity increases a person's ability to heal.
