OG 37.In the last decade there has been a significant
decrease in coffee consumption. During this same
time, there has been increasing publicity about the
adverse long-term effects on health of the caffeine in
coffee. Therefore, the decrease in coffee consumption
must have been caused by consumers’ awareness of
the harmful effects of caffeine.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls into
question the explanation above?
(A) On average, people consume 30 percent less
coffee today than they did 10 years ago.
(B) Heavy coffee drinkers may have mild withdrawal
symptoms, such as headaches, for a day or so
after significantly decreasing their coffee
consumption.
(C) Sales of specialty types of coffee have held
steady as sales of regular brands have declined.
(D) The consumption of fruit juices and caffeine-free
herbal teas has increased over the past decade.
(E) Coffee prices increased steadily in the past
decade because of unusually severe frosts in
coffee-growing nations.