How is it not D?

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How is it not D?

by Rastis » Mon Oct 06, 2014 10:00 am
Recently, the research and development departments at major pharmaceutical companies have been experimenting with new injections that provide the boost in iron that anemic children need to reverse their condition. These companies have expressed confidence that children who are suffering from anemia will be cured relatively simply through the use of such biochemical supplements.

In concluding that the biochemical remedy being developed will have its desired effect, the pharmaceutical companies assume that

a) major pharmaceutical companies have the primary responsibility to cure childhood anemia

b) children afflicted with anemia will find out about and receive the injections that can reverse their condition

c) a diet rich in iron cannot improve the conditions of children suffering from anemia to the point that biochemical supplements would become unnecessary

d) a low iron level in the body is the only factor influencing the incidence of anemia in children

e) the use of biochemical supplements is the safest way to cure anemia in children

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by chetan86 » Wed Oct 08, 2014 8:59 pm
Hi Rastis,

Recently, the research and development departments at major pharmaceutical companies have been experimenting with new injections that provide the boost in iron that anemic children need to reverse their condition. These companies have expressed confidence that children who are suffering from anemia will be cured relatively simply through the use of such biochemical supplements.

The information stated in option D is already mentioned in the passage.
For correct assumption we require new information.

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by [email protected] » Wed Oct 08, 2014 9:39 pm
Hi Rastis,

This CR prompt is written in a "quirky" way - and it's not exactly how the GMAT writers would have written it. It's understandable why you chose D (and I'll get to that in a moment), but here's what I think the writer actually intended....The CR prompt revolves around a "plan", so we're likely looking for an assumption that confirms that the plan will "work" (have the desired effect).

The Facts:
-Anemic children NEED a boost in iron to reverse anemia.
-Pharmaceutical companies are experimenting with new injections to get anemic children that boost.

The Conclusion:
-The companies think that CHILDREN suffering from anemia will be CURED through the use of these (re: the company's) injections/supplements.

The Logic:
Since the pharmaceutical companies are focused on boosting the iron of anemic children, a logical question to ask is "is a lack of iron the only thing that causes anemia?" In other CR prompts, THAT would be the issue (and the answer would be D). Here though, we're given the information that a boost of iron is what anemic children NEED to reverse their conditions, so we have to take that at face value (re: ALL they need is more iron and they'll be cured and nothing else matters). With that established, the issue now becomes how do we get from "there are injections/supplements that cure anemia" to "children are now cured of anemia"? In real simple terms, the injections have to get to the children - THAT part of the plan is missing from the prompt, so it has to be the assumption that the prompt was asking for. Answer B gives us that.

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by Rastis » Thu Oct 09, 2014 5:17 am
Thanks, Rich. That question almost seems like a trick question.

Jesse