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- Wed May 10, 2017 3:24 pm
#34699
Complete Question Explanation
Evaluate the Argument—CE. The correct answer choice is (E)
Here, the clinician presents a more complicated argument than we have seen so far in this section.
The argument centers on certain patients who take a class of drug that makes them more at risk
for developing a bone-loss disease (osteoporosis). To combat this increased risk of bone loss, the
patients take a drug that helps them to preserve existing bone. Now, we are told, a new drug has
become available. This drug promotes the growth of new bone cells. Based on this information, the
clinician concludes that the patients should take both the new drug (which promotes the growth of
new bone cells) and the previously available drug (which preserves existing bone).
This is an Evaluate the Argument question, a rarely tested question type in which we are tasked with
picking the answer choice that best helps us determine whether the conclusion makes sense based
on the evidence. The best way to prephrase for this question type is to first identify any holes in the
argument. In this case, the question that likely came to your mind was how will the two drugs work
together? The stimulus already primed this concern by starting off with the fact that the patients’
osteoporosis is a side-effect of a class of drug they take for a different condition. An answer choice
that tells us about the how the two drugs work together could help us determine whether the patients
should actually take both drugs.
Answer choice (A): The size of this class of drug is irrelevant to the conclusion, since the class was
only mentioned in setting up the issue of bone loss and did not relate to the treatment of it.
Answer choice (B): As with answer choice (A), this answer choice is irrelevant to the conclusion,
which focuses on treating the risk of bone loss, not why that class of medications is prescribed in the
first place.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice is closer to being relevant to the conclusion, because it at
least is focused on the medications used to treat the increased risk of bone loss. However, this answer
choice would be relevant to the question of whether one of the medications should be prescribed
instead of the other. Since the conclusion is that both medications should be prescribed, this
comparison between the cost of each medication is beside the point.
Answer choice (D): Here, the answer choice is irrelevant because we have no idea what to do with
it. If the medication has been in use for a long time, what does that mean? Since we cannot tell what
impact that information would have on the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice because it raises a concern relevant to the
conclusion that both medications should be prescribed. If the new drug loses its efficiency when used
in combination with other drugs, that information would make us doubt whether the new medication
and the existing medication should be prescribed together. However, if the new drug is just as
efficient when prescribed with another medication as when it is prescribed on its own, then we have
no reason to doubt the conclusion.
Evaluate the Argument—CE. The correct answer choice is (E)
Here, the clinician presents a more complicated argument than we have seen so far in this section.
The argument centers on certain patients who take a class of drug that makes them more at risk
for developing a bone-loss disease (osteoporosis). To combat this increased risk of bone loss, the
patients take a drug that helps them to preserve existing bone. Now, we are told, a new drug has
become available. This drug promotes the growth of new bone cells. Based on this information, the
clinician concludes that the patients should take both the new drug (which promotes the growth of
new bone cells) and the previously available drug (which preserves existing bone).
This is an Evaluate the Argument question, a rarely tested question type in which we are tasked with
picking the answer choice that best helps us determine whether the conclusion makes sense based
on the evidence. The best way to prephrase for this question type is to first identify any holes in the
argument. In this case, the question that likely came to your mind was how will the two drugs work
together? The stimulus already primed this concern by starting off with the fact that the patients’
osteoporosis is a side-effect of a class of drug they take for a different condition. An answer choice
that tells us about the how the two drugs work together could help us determine whether the patients
should actually take both drugs.
Answer choice (A): The size of this class of drug is irrelevant to the conclusion, since the class was
only mentioned in setting up the issue of bone loss and did not relate to the treatment of it.
Answer choice (B): As with answer choice (A), this answer choice is irrelevant to the conclusion,
which focuses on treating the risk of bone loss, not why that class of medications is prescribed in the
first place.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice is closer to being relevant to the conclusion, because it at
least is focused on the medications used to treat the increased risk of bone loss. However, this answer
choice would be relevant to the question of whether one of the medications should be prescribed
instead of the other. Since the conclusion is that both medications should be prescribed, this
comparison between the cost of each medication is beside the point.
Answer choice (D): Here, the answer choice is irrelevant because we have no idea what to do with
it. If the medication has been in use for a long time, what does that mean? Since we cannot tell what
impact that information would have on the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice because it raises a concern relevant to the
conclusion that both medications should be prescribed. If the new drug loses its efficiency when used
in combination with other drugs, that information would make us doubt whether the new medication
and the existing medication should be prescribed together. However, if the new drug is just as
efficient when prescribed with another medication as when it is prescribed on its own, then we have
no reason to doubt the conclusion.
