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Bacteria or virus

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Bacteria or virus

by Deepthi Subbu » Fri Nov 19, 2010 4:49 am
A newly discovered disease is thought to be caused by a certain bacterium. However, recently released data notes that the bacterium thrives(prosper) in the presence of a certain virus, implying that it is actually the virus that causes the new disease.
Which of the following pieces of evidence would most support the data's implication?
(A) In the absence of the virus, the disease has been observed to follow infection by the bacterium.
(B) The virus has been shown to aid the growth of bacterium, a process which often leads to the onset of the disease.
(C) The virus alone has been observed in many cases of the disease.
(D) In cases where the disease does not develop, infection by the bacterium is usually preceded by infection by the virus.
(E) Onset of the disease usually follows infection by both the virus and the bacterium.

Let me know if what I guessed is wrong

I feel the OA is C
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by shovan85 » Fri Nov 19, 2010 5:31 am
Deepthi Subbu wrote:A newly discovered disease is thought to be caused by a certain bacterium. However, recently released data notes that the bacterium thrives(prosper) in the presence of a certain virus, implying that it is actually the virus that causes the new disease.
Which of the following pieces of evidence would most support the data's implication?
(A) In the absence of the virus, the disease has been observed to follow infection by the bacterium.
(B) The virus has been shown to aid the growth of bacterium, a process which often leads to the onset of the disease.
(C) The virus alone has been observed in many cases of the disease.
(D) In cases where the disease does not develop, infection by the bacterium is usually preceded by infection by the virus.
(E) Onset of the disease usually follows infection by both the virus and the bacterium.

Let me know if what I guessed is wrong

I feel the OA is C
For me also C
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by beat_gmat_09 » Fri Nov 19, 2010 5:39 am
The virus alone has been observed in many cases of the disease
I doubt on C, just because the virus is observed doesn't necessarily mean the virus caused the disease.
Whereas B, though it says "often", talks something on the onset of disease, here virus is the indirect cause of disease and, i feel, the implication still holds.
Not sure, experts pls comment.
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by Deepthi Subbu » Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:29 am
Correct . Even I had the same confusion but finally chose C cuz here as per the premise ,the correct option must prove virus to be the only causative agent
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by Ravish » Fri Nov 19, 2010 5:17 pm
A newly discovered disease is thought to be caused by a certain bacterium. However, recently released data notes that the bacterium thrives(prosper) in the presence of a certain virus, implying that it is actually the virus that causes the new disease.
Which of the following pieces of evidence would most support the data's implication?


(A) In the absence of the virus, the disease has been observed to follow infection by the bacterium. Weakens the argument

(B) The virus has been shown to aid the growth of bacterium, a process which often leads to the onset of the disease. A tempting answer but does nothing to conclusively prove that it is the virus that causes the disease. If the virus promotes the growth of the bacteria, it can imply that it still might be the bacteria that causes the disease and the virus just creates an environment necessary for the bacteria to thrive in

(C) The virus alone has been observed in many cases of the disease. Correct! If the virus, in many cases, has been shown to cause the disease without the presence of the bacteria, it proves that it is the virus that is responsible for causing the disease.

(D) In cases where the disease does not develop, infection by the bacterium is usually preceded by infection by the virus. Irrelevant! if the disease does not develop, we do not care what effects the bacteria or the virus has

(E) Onset of the disease usually follows infection by both the virus and the bacterium. Inconclusive! Does not provide evidence on whether it is the bacteria or the virus primarily responsible for the disease
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by diebeatsthegmat » Fri Nov 19, 2010 11:23 pm
Deepthi Subbu wrote:A newly discovered disease is thought to be caused by a certain bacterium. However, recently released data notes that the bacterium thrives(prosper) in the presence of a certain virus, implying that it is actually the virus that causes the new disease.
Which of the following pieces of evidence would most support the data's implication?
(A) In the absence of the virus, the disease has been observed to follow infection by the bacterium.
(B) The virus has been shown to aid the growth of bacterium, a process which often leads to the onset of the disease.
(C) The virus alone has been observed in many cases of the disease.
(D) In cases where the disease does not develop, infection by the bacterium is usually preceded by infection by the virus.
(E) Onset of the disease usually follows infection by both the virus and the bacterium.

Let me know if what I guessed is wrong

I feel the OA is C
i chose B and i dont understand why its c ?
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by diebeatsthegmat » Fri Nov 19, 2010 11:29 pm
Ravish wrote:A newly discovered disease is thought to be caused by a certain bacterium. However, recently released data notes that the bacterium thrives(prosper) in the presence of a certain virus, implying that it is actually the virus that causes the new disease.
Which of the following pieces of evidence would most support the data's implication?


(A) In the absence of the virus, the disease has been observed to follow infection by the bacterium. Weakens the argument

(B) The virus has been shown to aid the growth of bacterium, a process which often leads to the onset of the disease. A tempting answer but does nothing to conclusively prove that it is the virus that causes the disease. If the virus promotes the growth of the bacteria, it can imply that it still might be the bacteria that causes the disease and the virus just creates an environment necessary for the bacteria to thrive in

(C) The virus alone has been observed in many cases of the disease. Correct! If the virus, in many cases, has been shown to cause the disease without the presence of the bacteria, it proves that it is the virus that is responsible for causing the disease.

(D) In cases where the disease does not develop, infection by the bacterium is usually preceded by infection by the virus. Irrelevant! if the disease does not develop, we do not care what effects the bacteria or the virus has

(E) Onset of the disease usually follows infection by both the virus and the bacterium. Inconclusive! Does not provide evidence on whether it is the bacteria or the virus primarily responsible for the disease
it says in many cases but it doesnt mean it causes the desease all the time! i dont understand... :(
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by beat_gmat_09 » Sat Nov 20, 2010 1:09 am
Deepthi, can we have the OA.
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by Ravish » Sat Nov 20, 2010 3:03 am
diebeatsthegmat wrote:
it says in many cases but it doesnt mean it causes the desease all the time! i dont understand... :(
The questions states which of the pieces of evidence would MOST support the data's implication

The data claims that it is actually THE VIRUS that causes the disease. Hence we are looking for the answer that hints that the virus ALONE may be the cause of the disease.

B is incorrect because it claims that the virus has been observed to aid the growth of the bacterium. This may still mean that the bacterium is responsible for the disease and not the virus. Also, B is repeating what is already stated in the question. Unless the question explicitly asks you to repeat the argument, rest assured that, in 100% of the cases, you can reject any CR answer choice that repeats the premise.

In C, it states that in MANY cases, the virus alone caused the disease. If you suspect that many is not a conclusive word, C is also the only choice that talks about the virus acting alone. All the other answer choices talk about both, the bacteria and the virus acting together in some way and hence do not conclusively prove which of them is in fact the culprit.
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by Deepthi Subbu » Sat Nov 20, 2010 6:30 am
OA is C

But I thought B also has an equal chance , hence wanted to discuss.
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