PrepTest 146, Section 2, Question 16
The caffeine in coffee stimulates the production of(51 more words not shown)
The answer to which one(10 more words not shown)
- ADoes extending the(15 more words not shown)
- BDoes a reduction(13 more words not shown)
- CWould coffee drinkers(16 more words not shown)
- DDo some coffee(15 more words not shown)
- EDo lighter roasts(13 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
More of the substance that reduces acid sounds helpful. But what if the darker roast also contains more caffeine? Then we're increasing something that stimulates acid production at the same time. The extra NMP might have more work to do.
The argument gives us one favorable difference between the roasts and assumes that difference settles which will irritate the stomach less. I'd want to check for an unfavorable difference too. More caffeine is the obvious possibility, although another irritating substance could create the same problem.
What we’re looking for
We're asked what would help evaluate the reasoning. A question about caffeine content would let us test that concern: are we comparing the same amount of irritation with more protection, or are both sides changing?
Working the answers
- ACorrect
Longer roasting is how the passage says darker roasts are produced. So this is asking whether the process that increases NMP also increases caffeine. Don't miss the connection just because the choice uses 'extending the roasting time' instead of 'darker roasts.'
If yes, the additional caffeine could offset the benefit of the additional NMP. If no, that particular objection loses force. Neither answer settles every possible difference between the coffees, but the answer directly affects how persuasive the argument is.
- B
Stomach function isn't the same thing as stomach irritation. Reducing acid could have some adverse effect on digestion while still making coffee less irritating. We aren't deciding whether reducing stomach acid is good in every respect; we're comparing the irritation caused by the two roasts.
- C
This asks how people would respond to less caffeine, but we haven't established that darker roasts contain less caffeine. More importantly, the comparison concerns how irritating the coffee is, not whether people compensate for a lower caffeine content by drinking extra cups.
- D
Drinking more cups could matter to someone's total exposure, but that is a change in quantity consumed. It doesn't tell us whether darker coffee itself is less irritating than lighter coffee. The argument's proposed explanation concerns the balance of substances in the roasts; A tests that balance directly.
- E
Lighter coffee could have another health benefit and still cause more stomach irritation. For example, a benefit unrelated to the stomach wouldn't answer our question at all. We need to evaluate this particular comparison, not decide which roast is healthier overall.
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