In the early 20th century, a mysterious illness known as the 'Great Sickness' was believed to be transmitted from bats to humans through mosquitoes. Although the outbreak was most severe in tropical regions, the indigenous tribes living in these areas did not seem to suffer from the illness. Therefore, it is likely that these tribes had some form of natural immunity to the Great Sickness.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

Answer Choices

Correct answer marked below

A) The mosquitoes that carry the virus can also feed on other animals without transmitting the illness to them.

B) The Great Sickness can be transmitted directly from one human to another, bypassing the need for mosquitoes or bats.

Correct

C) The species of bats that were common in tropical regions were not present in the areas where the indigenous tribes lived.

D) The Great Sickness was spread to tropical regions by travelers who unknowingly carried the virus.

E) The indigenous tribes had a diet rich in certain herbs that were known to boost their immune systems.

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Explanation

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Official Explanation

Official

The argument states that the indigenous tribes likely had natural immunity to the Great Sickness because they did not suffer from it despite living in an area where it was prevalent. To weaken this argument, we need to provide evidence that suggests the tribes could have contracted the illness through a different means. Option B states that the Great Sickness can be…

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Comments

PoojaFeb 10, 2025

thanks a lot

priyankaNov 29, 2024

finally understood this

sebastianoMar 24, 2024

Good question

What this question tests

What it tests

Whether you can identify the option that most undermines an argument's conclusion.

Common trap

Choosing an irrelevant objection or one that attacks the premise rather than the reasoning.