For nearly a century, physiologists erroneously believed

[kris]

For nearly a century, physiologists erroneously believed that a buildup of lactic acid in muscle tissue was responsible for the soreness that many people experience after strenuous exercise. The acid, they claimed, is the waste produced by metabolic activity in the muscle and reaches "threshold" levels, causing soreness, when the muscle has depleted its oxygen supply. Researchers have recently discovered, however, that lactic acid is actually the fuel that powers muscular activity. Therefore, the cause of muscle soreness remains unknown.

In the argument above, the portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is an assertion that the author accepts as true; the second is a consideration in support of that assertion.
B. The first is an assertion that the author accepts as true; the second describes a situation that the author posits as contrary to that assertion.
C. The first is an assertion that the author argues against; the second is evidence presented as contrary to the author's argument.
D. The first is evidence that the author believes is no longer valid; the second is additional evidence that the author uses to support his main point.
E. The first is a claim that the author believes to be invalid; the second is the author's main point.

In the test, I marked E, the incorrect one. In betwen E and D, for me, D seems to be wrong due to second portion. The second one is not additional evidence. We don't have another evidence in the argument to tell that second one is additional evidence. So I went with E, though i knew Second Bold face is not the main point.

If i am wrong, what is the main evidence to argument's main point. Please clarify.

thanks,
kris

[StaceyKoprince]

The author's main claim is the conclusion, which in this case is the final sentence, starting with "therefore." The boldface sentence is a premise, not a conclusion. The word "additional" in choice D is in reference to the first part of that choice, which takes about evidence that the author believes is no longer valid. That is, the author presents one piece of evidence that he believes is no longer valid, and then an additional piece of evidence that he believes supports his conclusion. I agree that the word "additional" can be read to mean a second piece of supporting evidence, though.

And, actually, we have also identified this one recently as problematic because of some of the language in the argument itself and I'm in the process of rewriting it right now. So don't worry about getting this one wrong - it needs to be fixed!

[start2finish]

I appreciate if OA is clearly marked (by the Poster or the staff)

[rfernandez]

The OA is D. Sorry for the confusion.

[060504]

Question updated: For nearly a century, physiologists believed that a buildup of lactic acid in muscle tissue was the primary cause of the soreness that many people experience after strenuous exercise. The acid is the waste produced by metabolic activity in the muscle and, the researchers claimed, reaches "threshold" levels that cause soreness several days later. Researchers have recently discovered, however, that the lactic acid byproduct is also used as a source of energy during intense exercise. The acid is thus consumed before it can accumulate sufficiently to cause muscle fatigue, leading researchers to conclude that something else must cause the typical muscle soreness.

In the argument above, the portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A) The first is an assertion that the author argues against; the second is evidence presented as contrary to the author's argument.
B) The first is an assertion that the author accepts as true; the second is a consideration in support of that assertion.
C) The first is scientific evidence that the author acknowledges may be valid; the second contradicts that evidence.
D) The first is evidence that the author believes is no longer valid; the second is evidence that the author uses to support his main point.
E) The first is a claim that the author believes to be invalid; the second is the author's main point.

OA is D.

However, I'd like to challenge D because the first is not actually "evidence". Can someone please explain?

[jnelson0612]

Question updated: For nearly a century, physiologists believed that a buildup of lactic acid in muscle tissue was the primary cause of the soreness that many people experience after strenuous exercise. The acid is the waste produced by metabolic activity in the muscle and, the researchers claimed, reaches "threshold" levels that cause soreness several days later. Researchers have recently discovered, however, that the lactic acid byproduct is also used as a source of energy during intense exercise. The acid is thus consumed before it can accumulate sufficiently to cause muscle fatigue, leading researchers to conclude that something else must cause the typical muscle soreness.

In the argument above, the portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A) The first is an assertion that the author argues against; the second is evidence presented as contrary to the author's argument.
B) The first is an assertion that the author accepts as true; the second is a consideration in support of that assertion.
C) The first is scientific evidence that the author acknowledges may be valid; the second contradicts that evidence.
D) The first is evidence that the author believes is no longer valid; the second is evidence that the author uses to support his main point.
E) The first is a claim that the author believes to be invalid; the second is the author's main point.

OA is D.

However, I'd like to challenge D because the first is not actually "evidence". Can someone please explain?

Interesting point. I think that the GMAT would justify D with the words "that the author believes is no longer valid", implying that the phenomenon mentioned may have been considered as "evidence" at one time, but since the phenomenon is no longer believed to be valid it is not actually evidence. Obviously real, hard evidence does not decrease in validity, so the original characterization of this as "evidence" does not actually hold, as indicated by the rest of the answer.

I hope this makes sense; it's a little hard to explain.

[abhijit_moholakar]

In the argument above author is narrating the story as independent commentator , and analyzing what has brought scientist to come to a specific conclusion. In the whole argument, thus, author tells what scientist thinks about lactic acid. His opinion regarding the validity of evidence is never expressed in the argument. Author uses word however only to express change in conclusion or opinion of scientists
The author neither endorses any of the claims of scientist in the argument nor rejects any. The author is just telling what leads scientist to certain specific conclusion. In option D, thus, the first part -evidence that the author believes is no longer valid- is wrong. Second part in option D, however, I think, is right.

[tim]

Sorry, no. When the author uses a word like "erroneously", that is very clearly an indication of the author's actual beliefs, or at least a truth that the author accepts as valid. It is definitely the author's position that the evidence is no longer valid.

[SmallUser]

Sorry, no. When the author uses a word like "erroneously", that is very clearly an indication of the author's actual beliefs, or at least a truth that the author accepts as valid. It is definitely the author's position that the evidence is no longer valid.

But the way the new passage reads does not include this word. Thus, I believe C should be the correct answer.

[tim]

I don't believe the omission of the word "erroneously" changes anything. Can you articulate why you think D is no longer the answer AND why you think C is a valid answer? You would need to be able to do both in order to justify C as your answer.

[sagarr705]

Hi Tim,

I think none of the answers here are correct. D might be close, but the use of the term, "evidence" makes it wrong. There is no evidence presented in the first bold part. Its just a hypothesis. The last I checked, evidence by definition is an "available body of facts or information".. The boldface is neither supported by facts or by information.

Sagar.

[Sage Pearce-Higgins]

Although I hold our practice tests in high regard, I'm inclined to agree with you on this one, Sagar. The first bold part is more like a belief or conclusion than evidence.

[Sage Pearce-Higgins]

I discussed this issue with our team, and we agree with you that this question isn't clear. We've removed it from the pool of questions. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.