Nutritionist: A study revealed that although most adults estimated their diets to correspond closely with the recommendations of standard nutritional guidelines, most of their diets did not come close to those recommendations. Both women and men underestimated the amount of fat in their diets and overestimated their intake of most other foods. In most food categories, especially fruits and vegetables, women’s diets did not meet the recommendations. Men underestimated their fat intake by half, and though they met the recommendations for breads, they fell short in all other categories.

Summary

A study concluded that most adult’s diets do not conform to standard nutritional guidelines. This is despite most adults estimating that their diets conform closely with the guidelines. Women and men underestimate the amount of fat in their diets and overestimate their intake of other foods. Women’s diets did not meet guidelines in most food categories, especially fruits and vegetables. Men met the guidelines’ recommendations for breads, but underestimated their fat intake by half and did not meet guidelines in all other categories.

Strongly Supported Conclusions

Most men in the study did not consume the amount of fruits and vegetables recommended by standard nutritional guidelines.

A
Both men and women in the study misjudged their compliance with the nutritional guidelines in every food category.

This answer is anti-supported. We know from the stimulus that most men in the study met the nutritional guidelines for breads.

B
In the study, more men than women were aware that in some food categories their diet failed to reflect the recommendations closely.

This answer is unsupported. We don’t know whether more men than women were aware of their shortfalls when it comes to the standard nutritional guidelines. We only know that most of the adults in the study overestimated their compliance with the guidelines.

C
Women in the study were more aware than men were of the recommended intake of breads.

This answer is unsupported. We don’t know from the stimulus whether women’s bread intake complied with the guidelines. It’s possible that women complied with the recommended intake of breads, but it’s equally possible that they did not.

D
Men in the study estimated their daily intake of fruits and vegetables to be significantly lower than it in fact was.

This answer is anti-supported. We know from the stimulus that men overestimated their intake of most food categories. To estimate your intake as lower than it actually is would be an underestimation, not an overestimation.

E
Most men in the study did not consume the amounts of fruits and vegetables that the nutritional guidelines recommend.

This answer is strongly supported. We know from the stimulus that men met the recommendations for bread and fell short in all other categories. Therefore, men must not have met the recommended guidelines for fruits and vegetables.


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James: Chemists have recently invented a new technique for extracting rhodium, an element necessary for manufacturing catalytic converters for automobiles, from nuclear waste. Catalytic converters function to remove noxious gases from automobile exhaust. The use of nuclear power is therefore contributing in at least one way to creating a cleaner environment.

Marta: The technique you mention, though effective, is still at an experimental stage, so there has been no shift in the sources of the rhodium currently used in manufacturing catalytic converters.

Summarize Argument: Counter-Position
In response to James’s claim that nuclear power has contributed to creating a cleaner environment, Marta concludes that there has been no shift to extract rhodium from nuclear waste in order to manufacture catalytic converters. As evidence, Marta points out that the technique is still in an experimental stage.

Describe Method of Reasoning
Marta counters the position held by James. She does this by pointing out something that James did not consider about the technique he describes. If the technique is still in its experimental stages, then it is unlikely that nuclear power has had any effect on the process of extracting rhodium yet.

A
casting doubt on the accuracy of the claims made by James in support of his conclusion
Marta does not doubt the accuracy of James’s premises. In fact, she concedes that the technique James mentions is effective.
B
questioning the credibility of advocates of nuclear power
There are no arguments from advocates of nuclear power in the stimulus. We cannot assume James is such an advocate for endorsing the technique he describes. Moreover, Marta does not question anybody’s credibility.
C
indicating that James is assuming the truth of the conclusion that he intends to establish
James’s argument is not circular. He is not assuming that nuclear power is contributing to a cleaner environment. What James is assuming is that the technique he describes is already being put to use. Marta is attacking this assumption by stating the technique is experimental.
D
pointing out a fact that James, in drawing his conclusion, did not take into account
The fact James’s fails to take into account is that the technique he describes is still in an experimental stage. Just because the technique was discovered and is possible to implement does not mean it is actually being implemented.
E
pointing out that James’s premises are no more plausible than is his conclusion
Marta does not doubt the plausibility of James’s premises. In fact, she concedes that the technique James mentions is effective.

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This page shows a recording of a live class. We're working hard to create our standard, concise explanation videos for the questions in this PrepTest. Thank you for your patience!

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This page shows a recording of a live class. We're working hard to create our standard, concise explanation videos for the questions in this PrepTest. Thank you for your patience!

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