Argument Evaluation: “Major diseases afflict the elderly disproportionately, and they are generally very expensive to treat.” Which option, if true, most strengthens this statement?

Introduction / Context:We must strengthen a claim about both prevalence among the elderly and high expense of treatment.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• “Major diseases” include cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, etc.
• Prolonged hospitalisations drive costs significantly.

Concept / Approach:Pick evidence that connects elderly patients to severe, costly conditions.

Step-by-Step Solution:Option D directly links an expensive major disease (cancer) to a high share (50%) of prolonged hospitalisation among the elderly—this addresses both severity and cost, strongly supporting the claim.Option C suggests high expense but not elderly prevalence universally; Option A is implausibly specific and about “heart attack” alone; Option B addresses a dental service revenue, not major disease costs.

Verification / Alternative check:Prolonged hospitalisation is a robust proxy for high treatment cost, so D fits best.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:They fail to connect both prevalence in elderly and high expense comprehensively.

Common Pitfalls:Choosing anecdotes or single-condition statistics that do not reflect costliness.

Final Answer:Private nursing homes report that cancer accounts for 50% of prolonged hospitalisation of the elderly