Question

When a person is under intense psychological stress, his or her cardiovascular response is the same as it is during vigorous physical exercise. Psychological stress, then, must be beneficial for the heart as is vigorous physical exercise.
The argument above relies on which of the following assumptions?

• A. Exercise is an effective means of relieving psychological stress
• B. The body’s short-term cardiovascular response to any activity indicates that activity’s long-term effect on the body.
• C. Cardiovascular response during an activity is an adequate measure of how beneficial the activity is for the heart
• D. Vigorous exercise is the most reliable method of maintaining a healthy heart

Answer 1

The correct option is C Cardiovascular response during an activity is an adequate measure of how beneficial the activity is for the heart

The cardiovascular response is the common thing between psychological stress and vigorous physical exercise. The argument assumes that since vigorous physical exercise is beneficial for the heart, psychological stress is also beneficial for the heart because of this commonness. This implies that cardiovascular response during an activity is assumed to be a measure of how beneficial an activity is for the heart.