My ans. is B

we need to disprove that Novex is most effective. If we say that doctors recommend Novex only when patients can't take other available medicines, Novex's top position's stand will fall apart. B states the same. Patients who can't tolerate available effective medicines are recommended with light-somewhat effective Novex.

B

(B) is it. POE

(A) out : We are talking about Sinus pain not any other pian.
(C) out : Selling at lowest price does not make it effective or not painkiller. This can be used as explaination as why most hospital use so many Novex painkillers
(D) out : Unlike some competing brands of painkillers, Novex is available from pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription. So what.. This does not make Novex effective or not effective painkiller.
(E) out : supports argument. Does not undermine it.

Nope.

wow! this question is tricky! ...to my error log

B states: Novex to the patients who can't tolerate other medicines, this, to an extent, doesn't disprove that Novex is not effective. May or may not -- not a very strong point.
C states: manufatures sell at lower price, still, can't disprove that Novex is not effective.
D states: Doctors are inclined to prescribe over the counter medicines (easy for a patient to get & doesn't cost much considering insurance). It's easily availability not effectiveness that helps Novex sale/prescription.

D it is.

Well I had it C, and the rest is history.

Nope. Sorry if that created a confusion, but C is not the answer.

My shot the answer is A.

Reasoning below. based on Contribute/Not contribute.

For sinus pain, three out of four hospitals give their
patients Novex. So when you want the most effective
painkiller for sinus pain, Novex is the one to choose.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously
undermines the advertisement’s argument?

(A) Some competing brands of painkillers are
intended to reduce other kinds of pain in
addition to sinus pain. - Contributes. (Competition increases with the existing one as, the existing brands provide more service than Novex) - hence it is the A. Correct answer.

(B) Many hospitals that do not usually use Novex
will do so for those patients who cannot
tolerate the drug the hospitals usually use. - This suggest that Novex is a best alternative.- B is wrong.

(C) Many drug manufacturers increase sales of their
products to hospitals by selling these products
to the hospitals at the lowest price the manu-
facturers can afford. - - We are talking about what Novex can do for the patients and not about the sales figures - Out of scope- C is Wrong.

(D) Unlike some competing brands of painkillers,
Novex is available from pharmacies without a
doctor’s prescription. - This is a compliement to Novex as one does not have to visit a doctor to buy Novex. He can directly get it from the store. - D is wrong.


(E) In clinical trials Novex has been found more
effective than competing brands of painkillers
that have been on the market longer than
Novex. - Compliments Novex - Hence E is wrong.

Hence A is the correct answer and undemines the claim of Novex the most.
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Giving another SHOT

Lets look at this way. First of all, its an advertisement, hence Novex will claim that it is the best. And they support that by saying that 3 out of 4 hospitals give Novex. Now looking at the statment that shows Novex is not as good as it says.

Why would i choose Novex. Is it because, 3 out of 4 hospitals prescribe Novex?.

(Lets leave A for later)

In choice B, it says "Many hospitals that do not usually use Novex will do so for those patients who cannot tolerate the drug the hospitals usually use" - Meaning, Novex can do the same job as the other medicine and also cater to those who cannot tolerate the other drug. - Novex is good.

In choice C, it says "Many drug manufacturers increase sales of their products to hospitals by selling these products to the hospitals at the lowest price the manufacturers can afford" - It can be a promotional stunt and Novex can be the best drug. This statement does not say that Novex is bad.

Choice D and E compliments, hence no need to reason that.

Looking at the statement A, which says " Some competing brands of painkillers are intended to reduce other kinds of pain in addition to sinus pain" - this is the only statement that shows that Novex is not the BEST. There are better ones in here. The claim, that Novex is best is ruled out.

Am i missing something here?
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Giving another SHOT

I knew it ..... D D D