Thousands who suffer heart attacks each year die before reaching a hospital or clinic where they can benefit from the drugs that dissolve clots in coronary arteries. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new blood clot dissolving agent, which a spokesman claimed could save the lives of many people who would otherwise join this group of heart attack victims.
Which of the following, if true, would seriously weaken the argument above?
(A) The new agent must be administered by a team of doctors in a hospital or clinic setting.
(B) Many heart attack victims die unnecessarily even though they reach a hospital or clinic in time
(C) The new agent can be effectively administered prior to the victim's arrival at a hospital or clinic
(D) The Food and Drug Administration has already approved agents that are at least as effective as the new drug in dissolving blood clots
(E) The new blood clot dissolving agent causes kidney damage and irregular heart rates in some patients.
Please explain to me why is it the best Option? What is wrong with the other Options?
OA A
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Thousands who suffer heart attacks
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The conclusion: The new agent could save the lives of many people who would otherwise join this group of heart attack victims.
The evidence: Thousands who suffer heart attacks each year die before reaching a hospital or clinic where they can benefit from the drugs that dissolve clots in coronary arteries. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new blood clot dissolving agent,
The assumption: The new agent will help people before they get to the hospital.
As is often the case, we can weaken the argument by attacking the assumption. Choice A does that. The author never said that the new agent works on people before they get to the hospital. If it has to be administered by a team of doctors in a hospital or clinic to work in time, it won't do what the conclusion says. Yes, it might be a wonderful drug, but it won't, as the conclusion says, save the lives of people in "this group" of heart attack victims -- the people who die on the way.
Choice B simply restates the evidence.
Choice C actually strengthens the conclusion. It provides that missing evidence (assumption) discussed above.
Choice D brings in irrelevant material. These other drugs don't matter.
Choice E says that the drug is not perfect, but that's not enough to say it won't save lives.
The evidence: Thousands who suffer heart attacks each year die before reaching a hospital or clinic where they can benefit from the drugs that dissolve clots in coronary arteries. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new blood clot dissolving agent,
The assumption: The new agent will help people before they get to the hospital.
As is often the case, we can weaken the argument by attacking the assumption. Choice A does that. The author never said that the new agent works on people before they get to the hospital. If it has to be administered by a team of doctors in a hospital or clinic to work in time, it won't do what the conclusion says. Yes, it might be a wonderful drug, but it won't, as the conclusion says, save the lives of people in "this group" of heart attack victims -- the people who die on the way.
Choice B simply restates the evidence.
Choice C actually strengthens the conclusion. It provides that missing evidence (assumption) discussed above.
Choice D brings in irrelevant material. These other drugs don't matter.
Choice E says that the drug is not perfect, but that's not enough to say it won't save lives.
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