Statement — Smoking cannabis (from the hemp plant) causes illnesses similar to cigarette smoking (e.g., heart disease and cancer) and is far more dangerous than tobacco for mental health. Question — Which conclusion necessarily follows?
-
Aif only conclusion I follows
-
Bif only conclusion II follows
-
Cif either I or II follows
-
Dif neither I nor II follows, and
-
ENone of the above
Answer
Correct Answer: if only conclusion II follows
Explanation
Introduction / Context:The statement directly compares health effects of cannabis and tobacco. We must decide which conclusion is a strict logical consequence.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Bodily (somatic) harms: cannabis ≈ cigarettes.
- Mental-health risk: cannabis > tobacco.
- No claim about usage trends or population uptake.
Concept / Approach:Conclusions must be entailed, not merely plausible. A prediction about a “surge” in mental illness depends on future usage and other determinants; a comparative statement about effects follows immediately.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Conclusion I: “Increase in cannabis smoking could lead to a surge in mental illness.” While possible, the stem does not mention prevalence or exposure growth. Not necessary.Conclusion II: “Cannabis has effects on the body equal to that of cigarettes and worse on the mind.” This restates the stem and thus follows.Verification / Alternative check:Even with stable or falling cannabis use, II remains true; I hinges on usage patterns and public-health context.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:Any option endorsing I imports epidemiological projections not in the stem.
Common Pitfalls:Conflating comparative hazard with predicted incidence.
Final Answer:if only conclusion II follows