Fight or flight (Knewton Prep)

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Fight or flight (Knewton Prep)

by RadiumBall » Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:58 pm
Certain molecules prepare a person to engage in "fight or flight" in response to danger by stimulating the adrenal glands to make adrenaline, which in turn produces a cascade of responses that includes increased demand on the heart and raised blood pressure. In some people, these molecules are easily activated by common, but not dangerous, situations, increasing their risk of developing heart disease and hypertension.

Which of the following, if true, points to the most serious flaw of a plan to develop a medication that would block the molecules referred to above from stimulating the adrenal glands?


(A) Such a medication would indiscriminately block these molecules, whether they are activated by situations that are dangerous or not dangerous.
(B) Such a medication will not be available for many years due to the lengthy testing and approval process.
(C) Scientists have not yet discovered why these molecules are more easily activated for some people than for others.
(D) Such a medication will reduce a person's risk of developing heart disease but will not protect that person from developing hypertension.
(E) This medicine will have no discernible effect on people for whom these molecules are not easily activated by common situations.

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by AIM GMAT » Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:56 pm
IMO A. By suppressing the molecules it would help in one regard but its natural function will fail.
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by RadiumBall » Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:30 am
Correct OA: A
But why not C.

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by AIM GMAT » Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:48 am
RadiumBall wrote:Correct OA: A
But why not C.
C seems out of scope to discuss , what argument has to do with the extent of research done . why is total out of question .

If some new medication is being developed on existing natural feature then the new medication should not disturb the original feature , it is beneficial if it adds to +ve effects rather than cutting the old one.
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by tpr-becky » Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:44 am
A is the best answer. you want an answer that says they should NOT develop this drug EVENTHOUGH these people have a problem that increases their risk.

A gives a reason why not - becuase then they would never be able to use this mechanism even in the correct setting.

The fact that the Doctors haven't yet discovered a reason why it happens does not mean that we shouldn't develop a drug to help the reaction. Even if we don't know why people have this reaction we should still try to help them unless the help is worse than the condition.

Hope that helps.
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by Target2009 » Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:07 pm
+1 to A
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