Question

It is widely assumed that people need to engage in intellectual activities such as solving crossword puzzles or mathematics problems in order to maintain mental sharpness as they age. In fact, however, simply talking to other people—that is, participating in social interaction, which engages many mental and perceptual skills—suffices. Evidence to this effect comes from a study showing that the more social contact people report, the better their mental skills.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the force of the evidence cited?


(A) As people grow older, they are often advised to keep exercising their physical and mental capacities in order to maintain or improve them.

(B) Many medical conditions and treatments that adversely affect a person's mental sharpness also tend to increase that person's social isolation.

(C) Many people are proficient both in social interactions and in solving mathematical problems.

(D) The study did not itself collect data but analyzed data bearing on the issue from prior studies.

(E) The tasks evaluating mental sharpness for which data were compiled by the study were more akin to mathematics problems than to conversation.

Answer 1

If true, option (B) Many medical conditions and treatments that adversely affect a person's mental sharpness also tend to increase that person's social isolation most seriously weakens the force of the evidence cited.

Step-by-step explanation:

If true, the fact that medical conditions and treatments that affect a person's mental sharpness also increase that person's isolation could seriously weaken the evidence cited in this paragraph because it supports the idea that the more social contact a person has, the better mental skills that person presents. On this basis, if a mental condition or treatment curbs a person social life, then it would be ultimately hindering that person's mental skills.