Q. When facing various challenges, people in today’s digital world heavily rely on private, online information seeking behaviour. Individuals who experience depression will often attempt to understand their predicament and seek remedy by searching the Internet for depression-related information and treatment. A recent report says that there exists evidence of many searches comprising the word depression, during and just after the elections, in country Y. So, it can be concluded that the election is experienced by many people in country Y as a truly psychologically traumatizing event—and as such as being potentially depressionogenic.
Which of the following statements MOST seriously weakens the conclusion drawn in the passage?
A Election is a festival in some countries, people happily choose their leader by casting votes.
B A survey in country Y shows that an election can cause a significant increase in the average level of depression.
C Depression-related advertisements are on the rise during and just after the election in country Y.
D Many people do not use the Internet in country X.
E Per day sale of anti-depression drugs is constant across the years in country Y.
EXPLANATION
E
If the sale of anti-depression drugs remains constant across the years in country Y, it suggests that there is no significant increase in the demand for such drugs during and after the elections. The conclusion in the passage is based on the premise that the election is a psychologically traumatizing event, leading to increased searches related to depression.
In summary, option E weakens the conclusion by providing evidence that contradicts the expected increase in the demand for anti-depression drugs during and after the elections in country Y.
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