#22 - In humans, ingested protein is broken down into amino

[Adam Tyson]

Your analysis is correct, leslie7, in the sense that you have all the relationships lined up the right way, and you're right that A is incorrect because it is backwards . We wouldn't diagram it the way you did simply because we reserve those arrows for conditional relationships, while this argument is entirely causal, and causal reasoning, while it has some conditional underpinnings, typically requires the application of a different set of tools. Mixing up the two can lead you to select wrong answers, including some trap answers where the authors know some students are likely to stray.

If the argument is causal, use a causal analysis, and if it is conditional, use a conditional analysis. To quote Ghostbusters, "Don't cross the streams!"

[sseyedali]

Hi there,

I am just a bit confused about the explanation for why E) is incorrect. Is it because the stimulus already states that proteins can result in lowering of anxiety of mood, and so the statement can't be an assumption (its explicit in the stimulus)? Also any clarification on the explanation that "since the author's argument contains a scenario that would allow for the opposite of this answer choice to occur, this answer is not an assumption of the argument", would be great as well. Thank you.

[Robert Carroll]

sseyedali,

I don't see any indication in the stimulus that protein consumption lowers mood. The only statement about mood is in the conclusion, where it's claimed that sugars can play a role in mood elevation. That doesn't entail that protein consumption has the opposite effect. Beyond that, I don't think the argument relies on proteins having a negative effect on mood, so not only does the stimulus avoid making a statement like answer choice (E) already, I don't see why the argument would need it to be true.

As far as the explanation goes, it is drawing an inference from the application of the Assumption Negation Technique. Because the correct answer to a (Necessary) Assumption question must be something the arguments needs to be true, the negation of that correct answer should weaken the argument. What the explanation above is pointing out is that the negation of answer choice (E) is compatible with the argument, so the Assumption Negation Technique confirms that answer choice (E) is not an assumption required for the argument, so it's an incorrect answer. For more on the Assumption Negation Technique, see here: viewtopic.php?p=31896#p31896

Robert Carroll

[sseyedali]

Thank you very much, Robert, I appreciate the help.

[SeoYoung]

Hi,
I saw similar question but I want to make it clear.
IN the stimulus of the conclusion, it is using Causal Relationship.
On the other hand, (A) is using conditional relationship by using the word “require” . And in the explanation in the Powerscore, it is saying that ‘although the author assumes that raising the level of serotonin is sufficient to elevate mood, this answer claims that it is necessary (REVERSE) . But I think this explanation is little bit wrong since the reason I mentioned above.
I am waiting for help and clear explanation!

[Jeff Wren]

Hi Seo,

First, if you haven't already done so, please read the earlier forum posts for this question, especially Zach's post (Post #8) and Adam's post (Post #11), as they address the causal/conditional issues with Answer A.

In short, the argument in the stimulus is causal, and Answer D correctly provides the missing link in the causal chain of the argument.

However, causal reasoning can sometimes be expressed conditionally and the two concepts sometimes overlap.

What the explanation for Answer A is stating is that even if we were to think of this causal relationship in conditional terms (meaning that if the cause occurs, then the effect occurs), this answer would still be backwards because it gives the effect (the elevation of mood) as the sufficient condition and the cause (increasing levels of serotonin) as the necessary condition.

However, nothing in the stimulus indicates that increasing levels of serotonin is the only way to elevate mood, so it would not be considered necessary for this to happen.

Either way though, Answer A is wrong.