The retinas of premature babies are not fully developed at

This topic has expert replies
Moderator
Posts: 7187
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 4:43 pm
Followed by:23 members
The retinas of premature babies are not fully developed at birth. Because their retinas are so delicate, premature babies sometimes lose their sight. Methods for preventing this syndrome, which is called retinopathy of prematurity, have improved, but the proportion of premature babies who lose their sight because of this syndrome has increased.

Which of the following, if true, best reconciles the apparent discrepancy described above?


(A) When premature babies are born, their retinas are developmentally unprepared to deal with light and air in the environment outside the womb.

(B) The oxygen that must be administered to premature babies at birth can sometimes have a damaging effect on the babies' retinas, but the oxygen is now administered in less damaging concentrations than it used to be.

(C) The effects of retinopathy of prematurity can be reduced by controlling the exposure of premature babies to light and oxygen, but this method cannot completely prevent the syndrome.

(D) The improvement of methods to prevent retinopathy of prematurity has been a gradual process, and there is still a need for further knowledge.

(E) Improved medical technology is saving the lives of premature babies who would previously have died, but these babies have even more delicate retinas than do other premature babies and are more apt to lose their sight.

OA E

Source: Official Guide
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

Legendary Member
Posts: 2214
Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2018 2:22 pm
Followed by:5 members

by deloitte247 » Fri Oct 25, 2019 9:54 pm
Premise: The retinas of premature babies are not fully developed at birth.

Conclusion: The method of preventing the syndrome, called retinopathy of prematurity, has improved but the proportion of premature babies who lose their sight because of this syndrome has increased.

Option A - Incorrect:
The passage wasn't specific about light and air in the environment outside the womb. Therefore, we cannot know if the retinas of premature babies are developmentally unprepared to deal with light and air.

Option B - Incorrect:
This claim is irrelevant to the argument. Neither was any information given about oxygen administering on premature babies nor the damaging effects of the oxygen.

Option C - Incorrect:
We cannot conclude from the passage if the control of the exposure of premature babies to light and oxygen is a method of reducing the effect of retinopathy of prematurity.

Option D - Incorrect:
We are not concerned about the need for further knowledge. So, this claim literally kicks off the point.

Option E - Correct:
The methods of preventing retinopathy have improved and it is proffered to prevent the loss of sight in premature babies and not the loss of lives.
As a result of this, this claim best reconciles with the apparent discrepancy of the argument.


Thanks