Logical Reasoning

PT156 · S2 · Q24 Researcher: Several chemical compounds found in

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Researcher: Several chemical compounds found in soybeans are effective agents for cancer prevention in humans.

Conclusion

Some compounds in soybeans can help humans prevent cancer.

Evidence

The argument relies on compounds in soybeans, such as isoflavones and sterols, to support the claim. Isoflavones are thought to inhibit estrogen, which allegedly promotes cancer. Similarly, consuming soybeans is said to result in less cholesterol absorption, with an assumption that less cholesterol leads to a reduced cancer risk.

Evaluate

The question stem is specifically saying that four answers will weaken the support. So while we might normally head to the answers thinking, , we can also think about directly attacking the evidence, the support.

To weaken, we could challenge the effectiveness of estrogen inhibition or cholesterol reduction in reducing cancer risk specifically in humans. Alternatively, evidence showing that soybeans do not significantly impact cancer risk would also weaken the argument.

Goal

Our goal is to eliminate the four answers that undermine the evidence (or conclusion).

24.

Each of the following, if true, would reduce the support given by the researcher for the claim that several chemical compounds in soybeans are effective agents for human cancer prevention except:

  1. Correct

    The soybean derivatives used in

    Why this is right

    This answer states that the soybean derivatives used in studies are not widely available to consumers. It doesn't directly tackle the premises about isoflavones or cholesterol absorption's impact on cancer risk. Instead, it notes something about study conditions versus consumer access, which does not inherently weaken the argument about soybeans' impact on cancer prevention.

    Skill tested: Weaken · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    71% picked this

  2. While phytosterols, which occur in

    Weakens

    This answer states that the reduction in cholesterol absorption due to phytosterols isn't significant enough to affect cancer susceptibility, directly challenging a premise about how soybeans could prevent cancer.

    6% picked this

  3. A study of people with

    Weakens

    This suggests that a soybean-rich diet doesn't significantly lower cholesterol levels in humans, undermining an assumed link between soybeans and cancer prevention.

    8% picked this

  4. Consumption of soybean products might

    Weakens

    This choice claims that while soybeans may reduce cholesterol in animals, they do not lower blood cholesterol levels in humans, undermining one of the two ways that soybeans were supposed to help humans avoid cancer.

    9% picked this

  5. Preliminary studies have not shown

    Weakens

    This is analogous to (D), which said the cholesterol reduction part of soybeans doesn't pertain to humans. This is saying the estrogen-inhibiting part of soybeans doesn't pertain to humans, undermining one of the two ways that soybeans was supposed to help prevent cancer.

    6% picked this

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