Recent research has indicated that married people are not only happier than unmarried people, but also healthier. This study has been widely reported by the media, with most commentators concluding that being married is good for one’s health and attitude.

The conclusion of the media commentators depends on which of the following assumptions?

A The longer people are married, the happier and healthier they become.

B Married couples who had a large, extravagant wedding are happier than those who had a small, simple ceremony.

C Married people cannot get depressed.

D Single people with depression or health problems are just as likely to get married as are other single people.

E Some marriages are more harmonious than others.

I got this question from one of the MGMAT tests. I picked answer C as according to me without this statement, the conclusion would fall apart. However, ans D is correct. I do not fully understand the explanation and was hoping someone out here could help me understand it better.

Thanks
Aanchal

Interesting question...

C is wrong because it is an extreme case.
Commentators only agree that married people are happier than unmarried people. Take this case... One married guy is happy for 5 days in a week (and depressed the rest of the days) and another unmarried guy is happy only 1 day in a week. Married guy is happier than the unmarried guy. But, it doesn't mean that married guy cannot be depressed. Therefore, C is wrong.

D is correct. Because commentators assume that people with depression or health problems are also getting married. What if only happy and healthy people are getting married? Then marriage is not the reason for happiness or health (because these people were happy and healthy before marriage). If this is true, then the argument falls apart... Therefore, D is the correct answer.

Correct. Research finds that two elements exist together: being married and being happy and healthy. The commentators then assume that being married CAUSED people to be happy and healthy. If that's true, we have to assume that this situation is not in fact that being happy and healthy CAUSES people to be more likely to be married. Answer D basically states this assumption.

_________________
Jamie Nelson
ManhattanGMAT Instructor

Difficult of this question ??? :)

Probably 600-700. By the way, what is the original source of this question?

_________________
Jamie Nelson
ManhattanGMAT Instructor