In order to assess the strength of the doctor’s argument, it would be most helpful to know which of the following?

Doctor: People who have grown up on farms and have been frequently exposed to germs from farm animals are much less likely to develop allergies than are people who were raised in more sanitary environments. This suggests that childhood exposure to certain microorganisms improves the function of the immune system.

In order to assess the strength of the doctor’s argument, it would be most helpful to know which of the following?
A . Whether farm animals exposed to microorganisms can develop allergies as a result
B . To which species of microorganisms children who grow up on farms are most often exposed
C . How the lifestyles of children on farms tend to be distinctive in other ways known to affect the function of the immune system
D . Whether adults who work with farm animals are less likely to develop allergies than adults from similar backgrounds who work in sanitary environments
E . Whether most of the allergies suffered by adults who did not grow up on farms are caused by allergens found on farms

View Answer

Answer: C