Question

An ingredient in coffee, known as RTC, has been found to inactivate common cold viruses in experiments. In previous experiments, researchers found that inactivated common cold viruses can convert healthy cells into cancer cells. It can be concluded that the use of coffee can cause cancer. Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

• A. Several teams of scientists performed the various experiments, and all of the teams had similar results.
• B. The carcinogenic effect of RTC could be neutralized by the other ingredients found in coffee.
• C. When RTC kills common cold viruses it weakens the immune system, and it might thus diminish the body’s ability to fight other viruses, including viruses linked to cancers.
• D. If chemists modify the structure of RTC, RTC can be safely incorporated into medications to prevent the common cold.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The argument claims that coffee consumption can lead to cancer because an ingredient in coffee, RTC, inactivates common cold viruses, which have been shown to transform healthy cells into cancer cells. To weaken this argument, we should seek an option that challenges the link between coffee consumption and cancer development.

Explanation:

1. The argument assumes a direct cause-and-effect relationship between coffee consumption and cancer through the inactivation of viruses by RTC.
2. To weaken this conclusion effectively, we don't need to challenge the entire mechanism of RTC interacting with viruses; we need to show that even if RTC does inactivate the viruses, it doesn't necessarily lead to cancer in the context of consuming coffee.
3. Examining the provided options:
   • The first option, about the consistency of experiment results across various teams, supports the argument rather than weakening it.
   • The second option suggests that other ingredients in coffee could neutralize RTC's effects. This potentially weakens the argument, but it doesn't directly address the transformation of healthy cells into cancer cells.
   • The third option suggests that RTC, even though it kills viruses, might weaken the immune system, thereby affecting the body's ability to combat other viruses, including those linked to cancers. This provides an alternative explanation not mentioned by the original argument, proposing that coffee's effect might not be direct carcinogenicity but could involve a more complex interaction involving the immune system, which weakens the original claim.
   • The fourth option about modifying RTC structure to safely incorporate into medication is irrelevant to coffee's impact.

Conclusion: The third option provides a plausible alternative explanation and weakens the argument by proposing that RTC's impact is not necessarily carcinogenic due to its indirect effect on the immune system rather than directly causing cancer. Thus, the correct answer is: When RTC kills common cold viruses it weakens the immune system, and it might thus diminish the body’s ability to fight other viruses, including viruses linked to cancers.