Statement — “Smoking is one of those human weaknesses which tend to test a smoker’s willpower to the edge.”\nCourses of Action —\nI. It is very difficult for smokers to give up smoking even if they want to do so.\nII. Human beings have other weaknesses as well.\nQuestion — Which course of action(s) follow(s)?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: if only I follows

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This is a “course of action” style question framed as inferences from a descriptive statement. The stem asserts that smoking tests willpower “to the edge,” indicating considerable difficulty in quitting. We must check which of the proposed downstream statements follows directly and usefully from that assertion.



Given Data / Assumptions:


  • Smoking strongly challenges willpower.
  • People who wish to quit face significant difficulty.
  • No comment is made on the full spectrum of other human weaknesses.


Concept / Approach:
From “tests willpower to the edge,” it is reasonable to recognize quitting difficulty (Course I). Course II makes a broad claim about “other weaknesses” that, while likely true in real life, does not flow uniquely or necessarily from the given sentence and does not guide action with respect to the smoking problem specifically.



Step-by-Step Solution:


Evaluate I: The stem’s emphasis on extreme willpower testing warrants the actionable recognition that quitting is hard even for motivated smokers. Hence I follows.Evaluate II: The stem does not discuss “other weaknesses.” This is extraneous as a course of action; it neither follows from nor addresses the specific issue at hand.


Verification / Alternative check:
Policy implications (nicotine replacement, counseling) derive from acknowledging quitting difficulty (I). No such programmatic utility arises merely from asserting the existence of other weaknesses (II).



Why Other Options Are Wrong:


Only II / Either / Neither / Both: They either import irrelevant generalities or omit the directly implied difficulty in quitting.


Common Pitfalls:
Accepting true-but-irrelevant general statements (II) as “following.” Valid conclusions must be tied to the given premise.



Final Answer:
if only I follows

More Questions from Statement and Conclusion

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