In each question below is given a statement followed by two conclusions…
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In each question below is given a statement followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to assume everything in the statement to be true, then consider the two conclusions together and decide which of them logically follows beyond a reasonable doubt from the information given in the statement.
Statements: In Japan, the incidence of stomach cancer is very high, while that of bowel cancer is very low. But Japanese immigrate to Hawaii, this is reversed - the rate of bowel cancer increases but the rate of stomach cancer is reduced in the next generation. All this is related to nutrition - the diets of Japanese in Hawaii are different than those in Japan.
Conclusions: The same diet as in Hawaii should be propagated in Japan also.
Bowel cancer is less severe than stomach cancer.
- A.
Only conclusion I follows
- B.
Only conclusion II follows
- C.
Either I or II follows
- D.
Neither I nor II follows
Attempted by 111 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Answer: Neither conclusion follows.
Explanation:
Conclusion I (The same diet as in Hawaii should be propagated in Japan also): The passage describes an association between diet changes and changes in cancer incidence among immigrants. This is descriptive evidence (correlation) and does not constitute a recommendation or proof that the Hawaii diet should be promoted in Japan. Therefore a prescriptive claim does not follow.
Conclusion II (Bowel cancer is less severe than stomach cancer): The passage only compares how often each cancer occurs (incidence), not how severe or deadly they are. No information about severity is given, so this conclusion is unsupported.
Because neither the prescriptive claim about diet nor the claim about relative severity is supported by the information provided, neither conclusion follows.