Critical Reasoning

Although custom prosthetic bone replacements produced through a new computer-aided design process will cost more than twice as much as ordinary replacements, custom replacements should still be cost-effective. Not only will surgery and recovery time be reduced, but custom replacements should last longer, thereby reducing the need for further hospital stays.

Which of the following must be studied in order to evaluate the argument presented above?

(A) The amount of time a patient spends in surgery versus the amount of time spent recovering from surgery

(8) The amount by which the cost of producing custom replacements has declined with the introduction of the new technique for producing them

(C) The degree to which the use of custom replacements is likely to reduce the need for repeat surgery when compared with the use of ordinary replacements

(D) The degree to which custom replacements produced with the new technique are more carefully
manufactured than are ordinary replacements

(E) The amount by which custom replacements produced with the new technique will drop in cost as the production procedures become standardized and applicable on a larger scale

OA C

My doubt is as follows-:

Why aren't A and D considerations for cost effective treatment? At the end, if there is more time spent in recovery or the manufacturing is not effective, there might be additional costs and that may outweigh the saving from the switch to new technology replacements?

Experts please help!!

shobhitk wrote:Although custom prosthetic bone replacements produced through a new computer-aided design process will cost more than twice as much as ordinary replacements, custom replacements should still be cost-effective. Not only will surgery and recovery time be reduced, but custom replacements should last longer, thereby reducing the need for further hospital stays.

Which of the following must be studied in order to evaluate the argument presented above?

(A) The amount of time a patient spends in surgery versus the amount of time spent recovering from surgery

(8) The amount by which the cost of producing custom replacements has declined with the introduction of the new technique for producing them

(C) The degree to which the use of custom replacements is likely to reduce the need for repeat surgery when compared with the use of ordinary replacements

(D) The degree to which custom replacements produced with the new technique are more carefully
manufactured than are ordinary replacements

(E) The amount by which custom replacements produced with the new technique will drop in cost as the production procedures become standardized and applicable on a larger scale

OA C

Premise: Custom replacements cost twice as much as ordinary replacements, but they will reduce surgery and recovery time and should last longer.
Conclusion: Custom replacements will be cost-effective.

To EVALUATE the argument, we need NEW INFORMATION that either strengthens or weakens the conclusion.
Rephrase the answer choices as strongly worded statements.
Rephrased as a strongly worded statement, the correct answer choice will either strengthen or weaken the conclusion that custom replacements will be cost-effective.

Answer choice C, rephrased:
Custom replacements are very likely to reduce the need for repeat surgery when compared with ordinary replacements.
This rephrase offers another way that custom replacements will reduce long-term costs, strengthening the conclusion that they will be cost-effective.

The correct answer is C.

Why aren't A and D considerations for cost effective treatment? At the end, if there is more time spent in recovery or the manufacturing is not effective, there might be additional costs and that may outweigh the saving from the switch to new technology replacements?

Experts please help!!

A, rephrased: The amount of time a patient spends in surgery is much greater than the amount of time spent recovering from surgery.
Who cares?
It is stated as a PREMISE that both surgery time and recovery time will be reduced.
Whether one amount of time is greater than the other is irrelevant.
Eliminate A.

D, rephrased: Custom replacements produced with the new technique are more carefully manufactured than are ordinary replacements.
This rephrase seems to strengthen the PREMISE that custom replacements will cost twice as much as ordinary replacements.
Any answer choice that strengthens or weakens a premise is WRONG.
A premise is a FACT: it cannot be strengthened or weakened.
The correct answer choice must affect the CONCLUSION.
Eliminate D.