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Question 1:
Studies last year concluded coffee drinking had little, if any, effect on the risk of pancreatic or kidney cancer. A study of 59,000 women in Sweden found no link between caffeine and kidney cancer. Another review suggested that those who drink coffee have half the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Which of the following statements, if true, would weaken the conclusion drawn above?
A. The study is done in cold countries only, countries in arid and semi-arid regions are not considered under this study.
B. Indians drink more coffee than the Swedish do.
C. The caffeine content is different in different varieties of coffee.
D. Intake of 15 ml to 30 mi of milk per day offsets the negative effects of caffeine. The study did not consider the milk intake.
Feedback The statement does not indicate, whether the results would be different in the samples and from arid and semi-arid region. Hence, (a) does not weaken the argument. It is not known whether any samples taken for study include Indians nor does the passage give information regarding the vulnerability of Indians to cancer. Hence, (b) does not weaken the argument. From the passage it cannot be known whether the persons considered for this study drank similar type of coffee or different types coffee. Hence, (c) does not weaken the argument. The passage states that coffee does not after a person's vulnerability to cancer. While the statement says that milk offsets the negative effects of coffee. It also states that these studies did not consider this fact. It is possible that the negative effect of coffee is not evident because theses people consume milk. Choice (d) weakens the argument.

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