GMATGuruNY wrote:

lheiannie07 wrote:Food allergies account for more than thirty thousand emergency department visits each year. Often, victims of these episodes are completely unaware of their allergies until they experience a major reaction. Studies show that ninety percent of food allergy reactions are caused by only eight distinct foods. For this reason, individuals should sample a minuscule portion of each of these foods to determine whether a particular food allergy is present.

Which of the following must be studied in order to evaluate the recommendation made in the argument?

(A) The percentage of allergy victims who were not aware of the allergy before a major episode
(B) The percentage of the population that is at risk for allergic reactions
(C) Whether some of the eight foods are common ingredients used in cooking
(D) Whether an allergy to one type of food makes someone more likely to be allergic to other types of food
(E) Whether ingesting a very small amount of an allergen is sufficient to provoke an allergic reaction in a susceptible individual

Plan: Individuals should sample a minuscule portion of the eight foods known to cause 90% of allergic reactions.
Conclusion: An individual will be able to determine whether a particular food allergy is present.

Rephrase the answer choices as STATEMENTS.
The correct rephrase will either STRENGTHEN or WEAKEN the conclusion.
E, rephrased as a statement:
Ingesting a very small amount of an allergen is sufficient to provoke an allergic reaction in a susceptible individual.
This option STRENGTHENS the conclusion that the plan in blue will enable an individual to determine whether a food allergy is present.

The correct answer is E.

B, rephrased as a statement:
A high percentage of the population is at risk for allergic reactions.
D, rephrased as a statement:
An allergy to one type of food makes someone more likely to be allergic to other types of food.
Neither of these options has any bearing on whether the plan in blue will enable an individual to determine whether a particular food allergy is present.
Eliminate B and D.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

lheiannie07 wrote:Food allergies account for more than thirty thousand emergency department visits each year. Often, victims of these episodes are completely unaware of their allergies until they experience a major reaction. Studies show that ninety percent of food allergy reactions are caused by only eight distinct foods. For this reason, individuals should sample a minuscule portion of each of these foods to determine whether a particular food allergy is present.

Which of the following must be studied in order to evaluate the recommendation made in the argument?

(A) The percentage of allergy victims who were not aware of the allergy before a major episode
(B) The percentage of the population that is at risk for allergic reactions
(C) Whether some of the eight foods are common ingredients used in cooking
(D) Whether an allergy to one type of food makes someone more likely to be allergic to other types of food
(E) Whether ingesting a very small amount of an allergen is sufficient to provoke an allergic reaction in a susceptible individual

Plan: Individuals should sample a minuscule portion of the eight foods known to cause 90% of allergic reactions.
Conclusion: An individual will be able to determine whether a particular food allergy is present.

Rephrase the answer choices as STATEMENTS.
The correct rephrase will either STRENGTHEN or WEAKEN the conclusion.
E, rephrased as a statement:
Ingesting a very small amount of an allergen is sufficient to provoke an allergic reaction in a susceptible individual.
This option STRENGTHENS the conclusion that the plan in blue will enable an individual to determine whether a food allergy is present.

The correct answer is E.

B, rephrased as a statement:
A high percentage of the population is at risk for allergic reactions.
D, rephrased as a statement:
An allergy to one type of food makes someone more likely to be allergic to other types of food.
Neither of these options has any bearing on whether the plan in blue will enable an individual to determine whether a particular food allergy is present.
Eliminate B and D.