Critical Reasoning

Since 1990 the percentage of bacterial sinus infections in AQADESTAN that are resistant to the antibiotic perxicillin has increased substantially. Bacteria can quickly develop resistance to an antibiotic when it is prescribed indiscriminately or when patients fail to take it as prescribed. Since perxicillin has not been indiscriminately prescribed, health officials hypothesize that the increase in perxicillin resistant sinus infections is largely due to patients' failure to take his medication as prescribed.

Which of the following, it true of Aqadestan, provides most support for the health officials' hypothesis:

A) Resistance to several other commonly prescribed antibiotics has not increased since 1990 in Aqadestan

B) A large number of Aqadestanis never seek medical help when they have a sinus infection.

C) When it first became available, perxicillin was much more effective in treating bacterial sinus infections than any other antibiotic used for such infections at the time.

D) Many patients who take perxicillin experience severe side effects within the �rst few days of their prescribed regimen

E) Aqadestani health clinics provide antibiotics to their patients at cost

OA: D

Hard question from Official Guide 2016 verbal Edition.

Thanks for the question @richachampion

D makes it more believable that the patients did not follow the prescription because the patients who administer perxicillin suffer side effects in the initial days and this fact makes them more averse to take the prescribed dosage

richachampion wrote:Since 1990 the percentage of bacterial sinus infections in AQADESTAN that are resistant to the antibiotic perxicillin has increased substantially. Bacteria can quickly develop resistance to an antibiotic when it is prescribed indiscriminately or when patients fail to take it as prescribed. Since perxicillin has not been indiscriminately prescribed, health officials hypothesize that the increase in perxicillin resistant sinus infections is largely due to patients' failure to take his medication as prescribed.

Which of the following, it true of Aqadestan, provides most support for the health officials' hypothesis:

A) Resistance to several other commonly prescribed antibiotics has not increased since 1990 in Aqadestan

B) A large number of Aqadestanis never seek medical help when they have a sinus infection.

C) When it first became available, perxicillin was much more effective in treating bacterial sinus infections than any other antibiotic used for such infections at the time.

D) Many patients who take perxicillin experience severe side effects within the �rst few days of their prescribed regimen

E) Aqadestani health clinics provide antibiotics to their patients at cost

OA: D

Premise: The percentage of bacterial sinus infections that are resistant to the antibiotic perxicillin has increased substantially.
Conclusion: This resistance is the result of patients' failure to take the medicine as prescribed.

The correct answer choice must support the conclusion that sinus infections have developed resistance to perxicillin because patients have not been taking the drug as prescribed.
D: Many patients who take perxicillin experience severe side effects within the �rst few days of their prescribed regimen.
Implication:
Because many patients experience severe side effects within the �rst few days of their prescribed regimen, they stop taking the medicine as prescribed, SUPPORTING the conclusion that sinus infections have developed resistance to perxicillin because patients have not been taking the drug as prescribed.

The correct answer is D.

Hi Verbal Experts - could you please share your explanation on Option A ? Why EXACTLY it's incorrect ?

ceilidh.erickson wrote: (A) states: Resistance to several other commonly prescribed antibiotics has not increased since 1990 in Aqadestan

The fact that this situation is somewhat unique to perxicillin does not give us any additional information about CAUSATION in perxicillin itself. The resistance could still be caused by some 3rd factor not discussed.

Absolutely.
Even in spite of A, this -- patients are not taking perxicillin as prescribed -- could also be a reason specific to the increase in resistance to perxicillin.

Right ?