medium · GMAT Verbal
Argument: High-fructose corn syrup is often blamed for the rising obesity rate in developed nations. **However, data shows that obesity rates continued to rise even in countries where the consumption of high-fructose corn syrup declined significantly over the last decade.** This suggests that other factors, such as overall caloric intake and sedentary lifestyles, are more likely to be the primary drivers.
Therefore, **restricting the use of corn syrup alone is unlikely to reverse the obesity trend.** Which of the following best describes the roles played by the boldfaced portions?
- The first states a hypothesis that the second confirms with statistical proof.
- The first is background information; the second is an intermediate conclusion.
- The first is evidence that undermines a popular causal claim; the second is the main conclusion.
- The first is a premise that supports a claim the author opposes; the second is the main conclusion.
- The first is the main conclusion; the second is a premise that supports it.
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