Critical Reasoning

A certain viral infection is widespread among children, and about 30 percent of children infected with this virus develop middle ear infections. Antibiotics, although effective in treating bacterial infections, have no effect on the virus. Yet when middle ear infections in children infected with the virus are treated with antibiotics, the ear infections often clear up.
Which one of the following most helps to explain the success of the treatments with antibiotics?
(A) Although some types of antibiotics fail to clear up certain infections, other types of antibiotics might provide effective treatment for those infections.
(B) Children infected with the virus are particularly susceptible to bacteria that infect the middle ear.
(C) Many children who develop middle ear infections are not infected with the virus.
(D) Most viral infections are more difficult to treat than are most bacterial infections.
(E) Among children not infected with the virus, fewer than 30percent develop middle ear infections.

IMO B

IMO B

I am between B and C

dv2020 wrote:A certain viral infection is widespread among children, and about 30 percent of children infected with this virus develop middle ear infections. Antibiotics, although effective in treating bacterial infections, have no effect on the virus. Yet when middle ear infections in children infected with the virus are treated with antibiotics, the ear infections often clear up.
Which one of the following most helps to explain the success of the treatments with antibiotics?
(A) Although some types of antibiotics fail to clear up certain infections, other types of antibiotics might provide effective treatment for those infections.
(B) Children infected with the virus are particularly susceptible to bacteria that infect the middle ear.
(C) Many children who develop middle ear infections are not infected with the virus.
(D) Most viral infections are more difficult to treat than are most bacterial infections.
(E) Among children not infected with the virus, fewer than 30percent develop middle ear infections.

IMO: B,
clues:
Antibiotics, although effective in treating bacterial infections

(B) Children infected with the virus are particularly susceptible to bacteria that infect the middle ear.

Ozlemg wrote:I am between B and C

C is incorrect because we are talking about ear infections infected with virus.
Check the question: Yet when middle ear infections in children infected with the virus
IMO B

Conclusion: Infections treated with antibiotic often clear up.

Evidence: 30% of virus infection = ear infection. Antibiotics have no effect on virus.

Here, we need to consider why infections treated with the antibiotic would clear up even though antibiotics do not effect the virus and make a few logical predictions:

- Virus changes/becomes susceptible to antibiotics when it infects ear
- Antibiotic treats the ear infections, which are caused by something diff. from original virus so they "clear up" but the virus itself remains

We can quickly eliminate all but A and B.

B is the closest to resolving the argument and most closely matches our predictions. The "ear infections" must be treat-able in a way that is separate from the original virus. If the ear infections are caused by bacteria, then it makes sense why they are treatable.

muddled a bit .. but made it just in time 2:05 ....
+1 for B

A tricky one but in the end OA - B.