Necessary AssumptionDiff: Hard
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Since lavender calms you down and being stressed makes you get sick more easily, sniffing lavender should keep you healthy.
Conclusion: Regularly smelling lavender likely leads to a lower rate of illness.
Reasoning: Lavender reduces stress, and because high stress weakens the immune system, reducing stress should prevent illness.
Analysis: The researcher is building a causal bridge from lavender to stress reduction, and then from stress reduction to immune health. For this argument to hold, there must be a 'Gap' filled: we must assume that the specific type of stress reduction provided by lavender is actually sufficient to prevent the immune system from weakening. If lavender only reduces stress in a way that has no impact on the immune system, the conclusion falls apart. Look for an answer that confirms the physiological link between lavender-induced relaxation and actual disease resistance.
Conclusion: Regularly smelling lavender likely leads to a lower rate of illness.
Reasoning: Lavender reduces stress, and because high stress weakens the immune system, reducing stress should prevent illness.
Analysis: The researcher is building a causal bridge from lavender to stress reduction, and then from stress reduction to immune health. For this argument to hold, there must be a 'Gap' filled: we must assume that the specific type of stress reduction provided by lavender is actually sufficient to prevent the immune system from weakening. If lavender only reduces stress in a way that has no impact on the immune system, the conclusion falls apart. Look for an answer that confirms the physiological link between lavender-induced relaxation and actual disease resistance.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage12.Which one of the following is an assumption that the researcher's argument requires?
Correct Answer
B
B is necessary. If some regular lavender users would otherwise be stressed enough to impair their immune systems, then reducing their stress can reduce illness. Negation test: If no regular lavender users are under enough stress to impair immunity, then reducing stress would not be expected to reduce their illness incidence, undermining the conclusion.
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