#16 - Dr. Kim: Electronic fetal monitors, now routinely used

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Strengthen-PR. The correct answer choice is (C)

Dr. Kim’s argument is as follows:

• Premise: Electronic monitors are more intrusive than ordinary stethoscopes
  
  Premise: Electronic monitors do no more to guarantee a healthy baby.
  
  Conclusion: The additional cost of electronic monitoring is unjustified, and this type of monitoring should be discontinued.

Answer choice (A): This principle is not applicable to Dr. Kim’s argument, because, although she does want to discontinue to the routine use of a particular monitoring method, the alternative she suggests (the use of ordinary stethoscopes) doesn’t provide more information than electronic monitoring—her argument is that the two methods provide the same information (with one alternative more costly and invasive).

Answer choice (B): According to Dr. Kim’s argument, both the stethoscope and the electronic monitoring provide potentially useful information, so the principle in this answer choice would allow for either method. It wouldn’t lead us to the conclusion that we should discontinue electronic monitoring in favor of the stethoscope.

Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. This principle is perfectly applicable to the argument in the stimulus; there are indeed two methods discussed, and one is more intrusive than the other. If this principle is applied, electronic monitoring should be discontinued in favor of the less invasive, but equally effective, stethoscope.

Answer choice (D): While this principle supports Dr. Ander’s claim that electronic monitoring was worth its cost. This principle, however, does nothing to Support Kim’s contention that electronic monitoring should be discontinued.

Answer choice (E): While periodic checks for reliability are probably a good idea, this principle is irrelevant to Dr. Kim’s argument, which focuses not on reliability but on invasiveness and cost.

[Jude.m.stone@gmail.com]

Hello! I understand why C is correct compared to the other choices, but I also thought that the order of the conditional statement in answer choice C had an impact.

As is, C says this:
2 methods available that provide the same kind of information the more intrusive method should not be used

With how C is set up, the necessary condition essentially forces Dr. Kim's conclusion that electronic fetal monitors shouldn't be used. Is that not required since this is just a Strengthen question and not a Justify question?

What if C's conditional statement was flipped and read like this?:
The more intrusive method should not be used 2 methods available that provide the same kind of information
Would it no longer satisfactorily strengthen Dr. Kim's argument? Thanks for your help in advance.