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- Wed May 04, 2016 11:45 am
#23916
Complete Question Explanation
Method of Reasoning-SN. The correct answer choice is (A)
Whenever the author begins an argument by describing what “some people claim,” you can be almost certain that the main point of the argument will be a direct opposite of theirs. If “some people” believe that herbs are not prescribed because of their dubious medical effectiveness, the author will probably conclude that there is another explanation for it. The argument and counter-argument in this stimulus can be summarized as follows:
While the alternative explanation provided by the author only explains why drugs cannot be sold, not why physicians don’t prescribe them, noticing this flaw is not necessary for answering the Method of Reasoning question. Simply put, because the author supplies an alternative explanation for the phenomenon of doctors not prescribing herbs, answer choice (A) must be correct.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. See discussion above.
Answer choice (B): There is no Data Attack in this stimulus. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): The opposing position is not inconsistent – the author does not allege that her opponents’ view is self-contradictory. She merely points out that there is another way to explain why herbs are not prescribed as drugs. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): The author most certainly does not identify all plausible explanations for why herbs are not prescribed as drugs: she only supplies one alternative explanation. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): The author does not test a theory or its predictions. Instead, she rejects one theory in favor of another. This answer choice is incorrect.
Method of Reasoning-SN. The correct answer choice is (A)
Whenever the author begins an argument by describing what “some people claim,” you can be almost certain that the main point of the argument will be a direct opposite of theirs. If “some people” believe that herbs are not prescribed because of their dubious medical effectiveness, the author will probably conclude that there is another explanation for it. The argument and counter-argument in this stimulus can be summarized as follows:
Cause Effect
Some people: Effectiveness in doubt 
Physicians don’t prescribe herbs
Author: Herbs cannot be patented Herbs cannot be recommended
While the alternative explanation provided by the author only explains why drugs cannot be sold, not why physicians don’t prescribe them, noticing this flaw is not necessary for answering the Method of Reasoning question. Simply put, because the author supplies an alternative explanation for the phenomenon of doctors not prescribing herbs, answer choice (A) must be correct.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. See discussion above.
Answer choice (B): There is no Data Attack in this stimulus. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): The opposing position is not inconsistent – the author does not allege that her opponents’ view is self-contradictory. She merely points out that there is another way to explain why herbs are not prescribed as drugs. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): The author most certainly does not identify all plausible explanations for why herbs are not prescribed as drugs: she only supplies one alternative explanation. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): The author does not test a theory or its predictions. Instead, she rejects one theory in favor of another. This answer choice is incorrect.