Tough CR

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Tough CR

by rahulvsd » Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:54 pm
Researchers have developed a blood test to screen for early signs of prostate cancer. The test detects protein, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), that is produced by the prostate in greater amounts when cancer is present. Testing for PSA can detect prostate cancer in the earliest stages in men who show no symptoms, but the diagnosis must be confirmed by additional tests due to a high rate of false positives. Recently, however, the National Health Organization recommended against PSA screening of men over 75. This group would probably not benefit, since __________.

(A) many men over 75 have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer
(B) the additional tests required to confirm the diagnosis are especially taxing on men over 75
(C) even if early signs are present, men over 75 who display no symptoms of prostate cancer are unlikely ever to do so
(D) the fact that PSA is present in the body does not itself strongly suggest that prostate cancer is present
(E) testing for PSA, along with necessary follow-up tests, is very expensive, and many men over 75 do not have private health insurance

[spoiler]OA:C[/spoiler]

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by Bill@VeritasPrep » Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:40 pm
A--The ones who have not been diagnosed could still benefit.

B--The physical effect is irrelevant to the effectiveness and potential benefits of the test.

C--If they are unlikely to develop prostate cancer, then testing for early signs of the disease is not very useful.

D--This has no effect on the potential benefits of the test.

E--Finances are not part of the argument.
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by geno5 » Thu Apr 05, 2012 1:01 pm
+1 C

They key is to find a reason why the testing won't help men over 75, thus strengthening the conclusion.

Also in the passage it says the test is only going to help men in their early stages, thus if the men, who do not have the disease won't be affected and those that do are old enough and if they have the disease it is probably to late. That was my thought process. Hope I typed that out alright, on my mobile.