Studies have demonstrated that people who keep daily diet records are far more successful at losing...

题目信息

Studies have demonstrated that people who keep daily diet records are far more successful at losing weight than people who don`t keep track of what they eat. Researchers believe that this occurs because people who don't record their diets eat more calories than they intend to consume. One study followed a group of patients who reported that they could not lose weight when consuming only 1,200 calories a day. The study found that the group consumed, on average, 47% more calories than it claimed and exercised 51% less. In contrast, when dieters record what they eat, their actual consumption more closely matches their reported consumption.

The two boldface portions in the argument above are best described by which of the following statements?

A:The first is a theory held by certain researchers; the second proves the truth of that theory.

B:The first is an explanation of why a certain theory is thought to be true; the second is an example of research results that support this theory.

C:The first introduces an example illustrating the truth of a certain theory; the second is an alternate theory.

D:The first is an observation that researchers hold to be true; the second provides evidence to substantiate the researchers` explanation for that observation.

E:The first demonstrates a cause-effect relationship discovered by the researchers; the second is the basis for the researchers` argument.

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正确答案： D:The first is an observation that researchers hold to be true; the second provides evidence to substantiate the researchers` explanation for that observation.

Studies have shown that people who keep daily diet records are far more successful at losing weight than people who don’t keep track ofwhat they eat.

Researchers believe that many weight-loss efforts fail because people eat more calories than they intend to consume.

One study followed a group of patients who reported that they could not lose weight when consuming only 1,200 calories a day.

The study found that the group consumed, on average, 47% more than it claimed and exercised 51% less.

In contrast, when dieters record what they eat, their actual consumption more closely matches their reported consumption.

Therefore, not keeping track of what one eats makes it far more difficult for that person to lose weight.

(A.) The first is a conclusion reached by researchers; the second is evidence that that conclusion is correct.

(D) The first is a premise upon which the researchers base their opinion; the second illustrates that their opinion is correct.

The sentence in red was added by me, to illustrate a possible conclusion of this argument.

(A) When a sentence starts with "studies have shown" it signals a premise. Think of it as building a theory. Your theory is that "keeping track with what you eat helps in losing weight". You need support for this, so you are looking for data that support it. In other words, you would read as many studies as possible and share their results. So, the first sentence, cannot be the actual conclusion. It presents supportive evidence coming from studies. The conclusion, adding up all those premises, could be sth like the sentence in red.

The second sentence cannot be evidence that makes the first statement 100% secure either. That because it is sort of irrelevant. The second sentence only says that the results of one study showed that participants consumed more than ther reported and exercised less that they reported. This doesn't have to do with them keeping records with what they eat, which is what the first sentence says.

(D) is correct. The first is a premise (explained above). The second is another premise in support of the first premise. It adds strength to the first premise in that it shows that people can be misleaded when it comes to how much they have consumed.

笔记