A certain viral infection is widespread among children, and about 30 percent of children infected with this virus develop middle ear infections. Antibiotics, although effective in treating bacterial infections, have no effect on the virus. Yet when middle ear infections in children infected with the virus are treated with antibiotics, the ear infections often clear up.
Children infected by virus; some develop middle ear infections.
Antibiotic -> kill bacteria; Antibiotic -> Does not kill virus
Middle ear infections infected with virus -> Antibiotics work
So Antibiotics do not kill virus, why using it help in clearing up infections? Since the only other clue that we have in the reasoning is that Antibiotics kill Bacteria. I assume the answer must have something to do with Bacteria. Let's check it out.
Which one of the following most helps to explain the success of the treatments with antibiotics?
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(A) Although some types of antibiotics fail to clear up certain infections, other types of antibiotics might provide effective treatment for those infections
This talks about a different group of children. The group of children that we are concerned with is the group of children who are infected WITH the virus and are at the same time treated WITH antibiotics. (A) is out.
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(B) Children infected with the virus are particularly susceptible to bacteria that infect the middle ear.
This matches our thought. Hang on to this.
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(C) Many children who develop middle ear infections are not infected with the virus.
This is again talking about different group of children. We need focus on children who are infected with the virus and are at the same time treated with antibiotics. (C) is out
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(D) Most viral infections are more difficult to treat than are most bacterial infections.
The argument's evidence shows that antibiotics have no effect on virus. The different degree of treatment difficulty between viral infections and bacterial infections does not explain why antibiotics aid in clearing up the infections. (D) is out.
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(E) Among children not infected with the virus, fewer than 30 percent develop middle ear infections.
This is similar to (A) and (C), "children not infected with the virus" is out of the context. (E) is out.
(B) is the only one left. (B) is our correct answer.