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- Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:00 am
#33111
Complete Question Explanation
Must Be True—Formal Logic. The correct answer choice is (C)
The facts in this stimulus describe how some physicians view the marketing practices of drug companies, which often send gifts to physicians. A recent survey asked physicians whether they believed this practice influenced either themselves or other physicians when prescribing drugs. Most physicians reportedly responded that they themselves are not influenced by drug companies’ gifts. However, in response to the same survey, most physicians also reported their belief that most other physicians’ prescription choices are influenced by drug companies’ gifts.
Here are the facts of the stimulus, broken down for review:
To make the conflict between these two beliefs more clear, imagine that there are 100 physicians in the world. According to the second fact described above, at least 51 of those 100 physicians believe that their own choices are not influenced by the drug companies’ gifts. But, according to the third fact, at least 51 of the 100 physicians each believe that the prescription choices of at least 50 of the remaining 99 physicians are influenced by the gifts.
Your prephrase is that both beliefs indicated by the survey cannot be accurate. Either some of the physicians who indicate that their prescription decisions are not influenced by the drug companies’ gifts are wrong about what influences them, or some of the physicians who believe that most other physicians are influenced by the gifts are overestimating the influence of the gifts on others.
Answer choice (A): The facts in the stimulus do not permit an inference about physicians who do not accept gifts from drug companies.
Answer choice (B): While the stimulus provided survey results reflecting two beliefs held by physicians, neither of those beliefs dealt with what the drug companies should do.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. As described above, the facts in the stimulus presented two mutually exclusive beliefs apparently held by physicians. At least one (i.e., “some”) physician is either mistaken about the first belief expressed or is mistaken about the second. It cannot be the case that both beliefs reported in the survey results are accurate.
Answer choice (D): The stimulus provided no information regarding the beliefs of physicians who admit that their own choices when prescribing drugs are influenced by drug companies’ gifts.
Answer choice (E): As with answer choice (D), the facts in the stimulus do not permit an inference regarding the beliefs of physicians who admit to being influenced by the drug companies’ gifts.
Must Be True—Formal Logic. The correct answer choice is (C)
The facts in this stimulus describe how some physicians view the marketing practices of drug companies, which often send gifts to physicians. A recent survey asked physicians whether they believed this practice influenced either themselves or other physicians when prescribing drugs. Most physicians reportedly responded that they themselves are not influenced by drug companies’ gifts. However, in response to the same survey, most physicians also reported their belief that most other physicians’ prescription choices are influenced by drug companies’ gifts.
Here are the facts of the stimulus, broken down for review:
- Fact:
In marketing their products, the drug companies often send gifts to physicians.
Fact: According to a recent survey, most physicians believe their own choices when prescribing drugs are not influenced by drug companies’ gifts.
According to the same survey, the majority of physicians believe that most other physicians’ prescription choices are influenced by drug companies’ gifts.
To make the conflict between these two beliefs more clear, imagine that there are 100 physicians in the world. According to the second fact described above, at least 51 of those 100 physicians believe that their own choices are not influenced by the drug companies’ gifts. But, according to the third fact, at least 51 of the 100 physicians each believe that the prescription choices of at least 50 of the remaining 99 physicians are influenced by the gifts.
Your prephrase is that both beliefs indicated by the survey cannot be accurate. Either some of the physicians who indicate that their prescription decisions are not influenced by the drug companies’ gifts are wrong about what influences them, or some of the physicians who believe that most other physicians are influenced by the gifts are overestimating the influence of the gifts on others.
Answer choice (A): The facts in the stimulus do not permit an inference about physicians who do not accept gifts from drug companies.
Answer choice (B): While the stimulus provided survey results reflecting two beliefs held by physicians, neither of those beliefs dealt with what the drug companies should do.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. As described above, the facts in the stimulus presented two mutually exclusive beliefs apparently held by physicians. At least one (i.e., “some”) physician is either mistaken about the first belief expressed or is mistaken about the second. It cannot be the case that both beliefs reported in the survey results are accurate.
Answer choice (D): The stimulus provided no information regarding the beliefs of physicians who admit that their own choices when prescribing drugs are influenced by drug companies’ gifts.
Answer choice (E): As with answer choice (D), the facts in the stimulus do not permit an inference regarding the beliefs of physicians who admit to being influenced by the drug companies’ gifts.
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