Critical Reasoning

Often patients with ankle fractures that are stable, and thus do not require surgery, are given follow-up x-ray because their orthopedists are concerned about possibly having misjudged the stability of the fracture. When a number of follow-up x-rays were reviewed, however, all the fractures that had initially been judged stable were found to have healed correctly. Therefore, it is a waste of money to order follow-up x-rays of ankle fracture initially judged stable.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

A) Doctors who are general practitioners rather than orthopedists are less likely than orthopedists to judge the stability of an ankle fracture correctly.
B) Many ankle injuries for which an initial x-ray is ordered are revealed by the
x-ray not to involve any fracture of the ankle.
C) X-rays of patients of many different orthopedists working in several hospitals were reviewed.
D) The healing of ankle fractures that have been surgically repaired is always
checked by means of a follow-up x-ray.
E) Orthopedists routinely order follow-up x-rays for fractures of bone other than ankle bones.

OA is C

Lot of the answers on the web, so not sure which one to follow. What is this question testing ? and how can i get rid of B.

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New to GMAT world

rajat_g wrote:Often patients with ankle fractures that are stable, and thus do not require surgery, are given follow-up x-ray because their orthopedists are concerned about possibly having misjudged the stability of the fracture. When a number of follow-up x-rays were reviewed, however, all the fractures that had initially been judged stable were found to have healed correctly. Therefore, it is a waste of money to order follow-up x-rays of ankle fracture initially judged stable.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

A) Doctors who are general practitioners rather than orthopedists are less likely than orthopedists to judge the stability of an ankle fracture correctly.
B) Many ankle injuries for which an initial x-ray is ordered are revealed by the
x-ray not to involve any fracture of the ankle.
C) X-rays of patients of many different orthopedists working in several hospitals were reviewed.
D) The healing of ankle fractures that have been surgically repaired is always
checked by means of a follow-up x-ray.
E) Orthopedists routinely order follow-up x-rays for fractures of bone other than ankle bones.

OA is C

Lot of the answers on the web, so not sure which one to follow. What is this question testing ? and how can i get rid of B.

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New to GMAT world

The OA to this question is indeed C
Now coming to what this is testing. We need to justify the conclusion that the followup X-Ray is a wastage of money.
Hence we need to support this statement.

Option A is out of scope as it compares the general practitioners with the orthopaedics.
Option B talks about the injuries that do not involve fractures. Hence this is out of scope.
Option C talks about a condition that will make our conclusion more sound. It says that the study is extensive, hence the conclusion can be trusted upon.
Option D is talking about some other thing. It is talking about the fractures that are repaired surgically. Out of scope
Option E is again irrelevant as it is talking about other bones.

Correct Option: C

Does this help?

OptimusPrep wrote:
Option B talks about the injuries that do not involve fractures. Hence this is out of scope.
Option C talks about a condition that will make our conclusion more sound. It says that the study is extensive, hence the conclusion can be trusted upon.
Does this help?

Ankur,

Thanks for your reply. I have understood why answer choices are wrong. But i want to clear some doubt on B or want to understand B a little more

Lets say if answer choice B were changed to

Many ankle injuries [removing this part] are revealed by the X-ray to involve any fracture of the ankle.

Now taking a closer look with the conclusion - it is a waste of money to order follow-up x-rays of ankle fracture initially judged stable.

Now the new changed statement is impacting the conclusion, well not strengthening it but weakening it because now To order follow-up is not a waste of money as X-ray revealed ankle fractures.

Will really appreciate if other people can also post their explanations.

Rajat
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New to GMAT world

Hi Guys,

Any thoughts on this question. Please help.... CR is giving me nightmares