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Dengue

by harsh.champ » Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:32 am
The number of people diagnosed with dengue fever (which is contracted from the bite of an infected mosquito) in North India this year is twice the number diagnosed last year. The authorities have concluded that measures to control the mosquito population have failed in this region.

All of the following, if true, would cast doubt on the authorities' conclusion except

A. more cases are now reported because of increases in administrative efficiency
B. a very high proportion of the cases were in people who had recently returned from neighboring countries
C. an effective diagnostic test was introduced about nine months ago
D. the disease is prevalent only in some industrialized areas which have shown a dramatic increase in population due to migration
E. the incidence (number of cases per thousand) of malaria, also contracted from mosquito bites, has increased
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by komal » Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:49 am
harsh.champ wrote:The number of people diagnosed with dengue fever (which is contracted from the bite of an infected mosquito) in North India this year is twice the number diagnosed last year. The authorities have concluded that measures to control the mosquito population have failed in this region.

All of the following, if true, would cast doubt on the authorities' conclusion except

Conclusion : Measures to control mosquitoes have failed.

This is a weaken EXCEPT question. So 4 answer choices will weaken the conclusion and 1 answer choice will not.

A. more cases are now reported because of increases in administrative efficiency
Incorrect : This weakens the conclusion by stating that administration has become more efficient and more dengue cases are reported.

B. a very high proportion of the cases were in people who had recently returned from neighboring countries
Incorrect : The number of ppl diagnosed this year is twice the number diagnosed last year because high proportion of cases of dengue fever were in ppl who had returned from neighbouring countries. As such, measures to control mosquitoes have not failed.

C. an effective diagnostic test was introduced about nine months ago
Incorrect : This undermines the conclusion by showing that more ppl were diagnosed this year because the new diagnostic test is more effective.

D. the disease is prevalent only in some industrialized areas which have shown a dramatic increase in population due to migration
Incorrect : Weakens the argument by showing that migration is the reason for increase in dengue cases this year.

E. the incidence (number of cases per thousand) of malaria, also contracted from mosquito bites, has increased
Correct : This supports the conclusion by stating that cases of malaria has also increased hence the authorities have failed to control mosquito population.
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by reply2spg » Fri Feb 19, 2010 8:00 am
IMO C....E says about number of bites and not about the mosquito population. There might be a case that one mosquito bites 100 people. however, mosquito population is less in the area because of govt measures.

Introduction of effective diagnotic test has nothing to do with the passage. Therefore, IMO C
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by amazonviper » Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:16 pm
IMO E as well. Please post OA
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by thephoenix » Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:36 pm
harsh.champ wrote:The number of people diagnosed with dengue fever (which is contracted from the bite of an infected mosquito) in North India this year is twice the number diagnosed last year. The authorities have concluded that measures to control the mosquito population have failed in this region.

All of the following, if true, would cast doubt on the authorities' conclusion except

A. more cases are now reported because of increases in administrative efficiency
B. a very high proportion of the cases were in people who had recently returned from neighboring countries
C. an effective diagnostic test was introduced about nine months ago
D. the disease is prevalent only in some industrialized areas which have shown a dramatic increase in population due to migration
E. the incidence (number of cases per thousand) of malaria, also contracted from mosquito bites, has increased
this is an except weakening q means the ans choices contains 4 correct ans which actually weakens the argument and one incorrect ans which actually does not weaken the argument(remmeber it may either strengthen the argument or doesn't effect it at all)

now in weaken q in which there is a cuase and effect relationship the correct ans actually weakens the argument by providing another cause for the occurence of effect

here the cause in the stimulus is inc in the cases from prv year to this year -------effect------> conclusion that measures to control the mosquito population have failed in this region.

now 4 correct ans will be providing another cause

let us see
A) more cases are now reported because of increases in administrative efficiency
yes def another cause hence not an ans reqd here

b)people who had recently returned from neighboring countries have a very high proportion of the cases
yes it weakens......eliminate

c)an effective diagnostic test was introduced about nine months ago......indicate there is a change in the procedure and therefore weakens the argument by providing another reason of inc.hence eliminate

d)industrialized areas which have shown a dramatic increase in population due to migration....have more cases
yes it weakens the argument

e) malaria another disease has inc...shows that indeed measures to control the mosquito population have failed in this region.
this one supports the argument and is thus the ans reqd by us

hence E
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