Switching to “Low-Yield” Cigarettes, Those that Yield Less Nicotine GMAT Critical Reasoning

Question: Switching to “low-yield” cigarettes, those that yield less nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide than regular cigarettes when tested on a standard machine, does not, in general, reduce the incidence of heart attack. This result is surprising, since nicotine and carbon monoxide have been implicated as contributing to heart disease.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy?

(A) Smoking low-yield cigarettes has become fashionable, as relatively healthier styles of life have become more popular than those that have been identified as risky.
(B) For those who are themselves smokers, inhaling the smoke of others is not generally a significant factor contributing to an increased risk of heart disease.
(C) Nicotine does not contribute as much as to heart disease as does carbon monoxide.
(D) Carbon monoxide and cigarette tar are not addictive substances.
(E) People who switch from high-yield to low-yield cigarettes often compensate by increasing the number and depth of puffs in order to maintain their accustomed nicotine level.

“Switching to “Low-Yield” Cigarettes, Those that Yield Less Nicotine GMAT Critical Reasoning” - comes with five options. The candidates need to choose the one which is correct. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. To answer the question, a candidate can find a piece of evidence that would weaken the argument. In this section of the GMAT Verbal, candidates get 65 minutes to answer 36 MCQ questions. In this GMAT Critical Reasoning question, candidates need to assume the argument based on the provided passage.

Answer: E
Explanation: Paradox/Discrepancy type questions in GMAT critical reasoning ask candidates to identify the discrepancy present in the argument. A paradox, in the GMAT CR, means the presence of two contradictory pieces of information in an argument.

Let’s go through each option individually and find the correct answer to resolve the apparent discrepancy:

Option (A): Incorrect.
In answer choice A, we can add in the assumption that people smoke more often. This is due to smoking low-yield cigarettes have become trendy. This statement is incorrect as of the additional work required for the answer choice to be considered true.

Option (B): Incorrect.
In answer choice B, we can see the statement to be broader. This statement states amount smokers in general. The given argument is more about people who switch to low-yield cigarettes. The result has not led to a less incidence of heart attacks.

Option (C): Incorrect.
In answer choice B, we can see the statement does not state the reason for the reduction of heart attacks due to low-yield cigarettes.

Option (D): Incorrect.
In answer choice B, we can see the statement does not tell us why low-yield cigarettes have not reduced incidences of heart attacks.

Option (E): Correct.
In answer choice B, we can see the statement of people who switched from high-yield cigarettes to low-yield cigarettes and address how heart attacks/heart disease has not been reduced. These people have been seeing an increase in the number and depth of puffs. This also shows that they can maintain the level of nicotine that they are accustomed to.

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