Critical Reasoning

The number of new cases of tuberculosis diagnosed in Country X increased dramatically this year. The country's news media have speculated that the sharp increase in new cases is the result of the tuberculosis outbreak that occurred in neighboring Country Y last year. Health officials in Country X have therefore proposed that all visitors from Country Y must submit to a medical examination before entering Country X.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly suggests that the proposed medical examinations will NOT help curb the spread of tuberculosis in Country X?

a)Country Z, which also neighbors Country Y, has not experienced an increase in cases of tuberculosis.
b)Current medical technology is not capable of detecting all carriers of tuberculosis.
c)Country X does not have the resources to examine all visitors from Country Y.
d)Tuberculosis is not spread through human contact.
e)Citizens of Country Y will not travel to Country X if the proposal is implemented.

OA after some discussion

IMO : B

chaitanya.mehrotra wrote:The number of new cases of tuberculosis diagnosed in Country X increased dramatically this year. The country's news media have speculated that the sharp increase in new cases is the result of the tuberculosis outbreak that occurred in neighboring Country Y last year. Health officials in Country X have therefore proposed that all visitors from Country Y must submit to a medical examination before entering Country X.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly suggests that the proposed medical examinations will NOT help curb the spread of tuberculosis in Country X?

a)Country Z, which also neighbors Country Y, has not experienced an increase in cases of tuberculosis.
b)Current medical technology is not capable of detecting all carriers of tuberculosis.
c)Country X does not have the resources to examine all visitors from Country Y.
d)Tuberculosis is not spread through human contact.
e)Citizens of Country Y will not travel to Country X if the proposal is implemented.

OA after some discussion

To show that a plan or a proposal wont work, we focus on "Some unintended outcome", or "some other factors that are not considered".

A. Country Z is irrelevant for this argument. Maybe, Country Y people dont go to Country Z.
B. Extreme Statement. But, I will hold on to this option.
C. Extreme Statement. But, I will hold on to this option.
D. Brings out an factor that was not thought of. CORRECT
E. IRRELEVANT

I was btw B and E. But E should be the most important factor that shows the plan will not work

a)Country Z, which also neighbors Country Y, has not experienced an increase in cases of tuberculosis. This is not a strong weakener. The case may not be disasterous for Z but on the other hand it could be deveastatig for X
b)Current medical technology is not capable of detecting all carriers of tuberculosis.Not ALL but maybe detecting some will be sufficient to curb the spread.
c)Country X does not have the resources to examine all visitors from Country Y. Not ALL but maybe detecting some will be sufficient to curb the spread.
d)Tuberculosis is not spread through human contact. --> So, it people are examined at the border, the country will still be suffering from the disease because the main carrier is not humans but other things like animals. This is very important to conclude whether plan will work or not!
e)Citizens of Country Y will not travel to Country X if the proposal is implemented.--Out of scope

Certainly, not E!
E seems to be more of an after effect of the plan!

IMO:B

The answer is very close . It all depends on the interpretation of word " Human Contact" . Frankly, i think this is controversial . How can a controversial verb define the answer ?

My Question to experts :

1. Are such close question , GMAC choice?

2. Can we have similar question from OG ?

Im trying to hack the authors mind .

The answer is very close . It all depends on the interpretation of word " Human Contact" . Frankly, i think this is controversial . How can a controversial verb define the answer ?

no it isn't controversial !! the interpretation of human contact is simply whether the disease can spread from one human to another .in fact the answer choice are no where close

IMO B

Con - proposed medical examinations will not help to curb the spread of tuberculosis

GOAL - Even if country Y visitors submit medical examination, tuberculosis will not be cured.

Now let s analyze the options:
a)Country Z, which also neighbors Country Y, has not experienced an increase in cases of tuberculosis. - Irrelevant
b)Current medical technology is not capable of detecting all carriers of tuberculosis. - This options says even if current technology wont be able to determine if the reports submitted by country Y visitor is correct or not.
So in this case the plan will fail to curb tuberculosis.
C)Country X does not have the resources to examine all visitors from Country Y. - cant examine ALL visitor, but still can examine some. Not supporting our conclusion
d)Tuberculosis is not spread through human contact. - so what?If there are any other means for the disease to spread, then..? The method by which the disease is spread is not our concern.
e)Citizens of Country Y will not travel to Country X if the proposal is implemented. - Irrelevant

the answer cannot be B it has to be D
we have to cite a reason as why this plan will not help curb the number of people getting affected
so even if u take B as true then there is a possibility that that current medical tech is able to detect few carriers of TB .in that case curbing the number of people getting TB will be achieved hence B is out !!

yep..i missed the word ALL in option B..

Undoubtedly D is Answer

It is a known fact that tuberculosis is transmissible:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuberculosis

Hence in my opinion B cannot be denied.
Even option C has a similar line of reasoning.

Also, "human contact" (option D, which is the OA) is vague. Even if there is not contact it can be transmitted by virus/bacteria and vectors and so on.

However my question is about the reasoning involved.

In questions where a disease is mentioned, is is unreasonable to assume inherent attributes just because they are not mentioned in the stimulus?

Case I: We assume it is contagious.
There is no denying option B

Case II: We don't assume it possesses any attributes other, than what's mentioned in the stimulus.
Choice B and C: The disease may get curbed to an extent and the choices are therefore invalid.
Choice D: The choice is still unacceptably vague.
We are left with nothing to choose from. What is to be done?

Also, with such questions appearing on the mock, how is it possible to gauge oneself? Is it a better option to stick to GMATPrep?

Please provide your feedbacks.