Asbestosis!

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Asbestosis!

by gmat_for_life » Tue Jun 21, 2016 7:48 pm
Asbestosis, a lung disease developed by people with a known history of exposure to asbestos, has symptoms identical to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). As per a new study, exposure to asbestos could be the reason behind some cases of IPF. Presently, people with asbestosis cannot access the new treatments for IPF, despite the consideration that such treatments work on curing an identical disease. If the findings of the study are confirmed, then people with exposure to asbestos need to be given access to the new treatments for IPF.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest reason to believe in the link proposed by the new study?

A. Another study has confirmed that the old treatments for IPF cannot cure asbestosis.
B. The usual treatments for asbestosis do not treat IPF.
C. Since both the diseases have identical symptoms, patients with a known history of exposure to asbestos are more likely to be diagnosed with asbestosis than with IPF.
D. IPF belongs to a group of more than 200 lung diseases known as interstitial lung diseases, a group that includes asbestosis.
E. High rates of IPF deaths have been noted in ship workers working with boilers, wall insulation turbines, gaskets etc., parts made typically of asbestos.

[spoiler]OA is E. Could you guys please explain why option B is incorrect?[/spoiler]

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by OptimusPrep » Wed Jun 22, 2016 8:23 pm
gmat_for_life wrote:Asbestosis, a lung disease developed by people with a known history of exposure to asbestos, has symptoms identical to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). As per a new study, exposure to asbestos could be the reason behind some cases of IPF. Presently, people with asbestosis cannot access the new treatments for IPF, despite the consideration that such treatments work on curing an identical disease. If the findings of the study are confirmed, then people with exposure to asbestos need to be given access to the new treatments for IPF.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest reason to believe in the link proposed by the new study?

A. Another study has confirmed that the old treatments for IPF cannot cure asbestosis.
B. The usual treatments for asbestosis do not treat IPF.
C. Since both the diseases have identical symptoms, patients with a known history of exposure to asbestos are more likely to be diagnosed with asbestosis than with IPF.
D. IPF belongs to a group of more than 200 lung diseases known as interstitial lung diseases, a group that includes asbestosis.
E. High rates of IPF deaths have been noted in ship workers working with boilers, wall insulation turbines, gaskets etc., parts made typically of asbestos.

[spoiler]OA is E. Could you guys please explain why option B is incorrect?[/spoiler]
Fact 1: Asbestosis is a disease caused by exposure to asbestos and has symptoms similar to IPF.
Fact 2: Asbestos might be the reason behind some cases of IPF.
Fact 3: People with asbestosis cannot access new treatments for IPF.

We need to strengthen the fact2 i.e. the link between IPF and Asbestosis.
If we show that both the diseases are caused by similar things, we can show a link between the two.
Option E does the same by telling that high rates of IPF deaths are noted in people working with parts made of asbestos.
Hence the correct answer.

Option B on the other hand says that the treatments for asbestosis do not treat IPF.
This does not show a link between the two. Moreover we are concerned about the treatment for IPF to be given to the asbestosis patients.