Question

For the past five years, US consumption of eggs has decreased. The National Egg Council plans to reverse this trend by launching an advertising campaign extolling the healthful benefits of eggs. Which one of the following, if true, will provide the strongest support for the National Egg Council's plan?

• A. Eggs are a good source of protein.
• B. Many former egg eaters now make omelets using egg substitutes.
• C. Most people stopped eating eggs because they thought eggs were unhealthy.
• D. Eggs contain unhealthy levels of cholesterol.
• E. Eggs substitute makers launched an extensive marketing campaign six years ago.

Hint:

In "strengthen the argument" questions, first identify the conclusion and the evidence. Then, pinpoint the unstated assumption that links them. The best answer will directly support that assumption.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This is a Critical Reasoning question that asks you to strengthen an argument. To strengthen an argument, you should provide evidence that confirms a key assumption the argument relies on.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The Plan: Launch an ad campaign focusing on the "healthful benefits of eggs."
The Goal: Reverse the decrease in egg consumption.
The Assumption: The reason people stopped eating eggs is related to their perception of eggs' healthfulness. If the decline was for other reasons (e.g., price, availability, taste), a campaign about health benefits would not be effective.
We need to find an answer choice that confirms this assumption.


(A) This is a potential health benefit, but it doesn't support the idea that the \textit{plan will work}.
(B) This describes a behavior but doesn't explain the reason behind it. People might use substitutes for health, convenience, or other reasons.
(C) This is the correct answer. It directly states that the cause of the decline in consumption is the perception that eggs are unhealthy. Therefore, a campaign addressing this exact issue is highly likely to be successful.
(D) This \textit{weakens} the plan by providing evidence that eggs are, in fact, unhealthy, making the council's campaign seem deceptive or ineffective.
(E) This provides an alternative explanation for the decline (competition from substitutes) but does not directly address why a health-focused campaign would be the right response.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The plan's success hinges on the assumption that health concerns caused the decline in egg consumption. Option (C) validates this assumption, thereby providing the strongest support for the plan.