kkrrsshh wrote:
Hi,
Could anyone please provide explanations for Q2 and Q3?
in Q3, its mentioned 'overcrowded and unsanitary conditions', so these are external conditions and not abt bacteria 'in the animal'.
Hi
kkrrsshh. OE for 2 and 3.Hope this helps
2.
This is a GMAT inference question, which means that the correct answer is not
explicitly stated in the passage, but can be reasonably concluded or deduced based
on the given information. The correct choice is always a likely or probable
conclusion: if an answer choice requires you to assume too much or make a large
leap of faith, it is incorrect.
(A) We are not given any information as to the government’s standards regarding
sanitation. Although the passage states that antibiotics are used “to compensate for
overcrowded or unsanitary conditions,” the word “unsanitary” could refer to a wide
range of conditions considered unsanitary by the author and not necessarily those
that do not meet government standards. In addition, the fact that antibiotics are
“routinely” administered to compensate for such conditions could imply that such
conditions described as “unsanitary” by the author may be the norm and may
actually fall within government guidelines.
(B) The passage does not state that non-therapeutic use of antibiotics is the sole
cause of antibiotic resistance. Hence, it is not reasonable to conclude that halting
such use would prevent new types of resistant bacteria from developing.
(C) The passage says nothing to imply that conditions for European livestock and
poultry are generally better than those for their American counterparts.
(D) While this may be true in general, the passage does not state anything from
which such an inference can be made. It is not reasonable to conclude that hospitals
are better learning to cope with the problem simply because the problem is
becoming worse and they are forced to deal with it.
(E) CORRECT. In the first paragraph, the passage discusses how antibiotic resistant
bacteria are becoming a problem for the treatment of infectious diseases in humans.
The third paragraph, however, discusses a practice that promotes the spread of
antibiotic resistance in animals, and the conclusion of the passage calls for the ban
of this specific practice. In addition, in the third paragraph, the author makes a point
to specifically mention that some of those antibiotics are used to treat humans. If it
were not possible for the resistant bacteria in animals to infect humans, then there
would be no link between the animal bacteria and the author’s concern for human
health; the policy that is subsequently advocated would be moot. Hence, it is a
reasonable inference that antibiotic resistant bacteria in livestock and poultry can
indeed be spread to humans.
3.
While it is helpful to know that the dictionary definition of the adjective “prophylactic”
is “acting to defend against or prevent something, especially disease; protective,”
this knowledge is not necessary; the intended meaning of the phrase “prophylactic
measure” can be inferred from the context of the passage.
The beginning of the first sentence of the third paragraph specifically points out that
the antibiotics are used “not as a cure for ongoing maladies” and the last sentence of
the paragraph describes such use as “non-therapeutic.” In addition, the phrase “to
compensate for … unsanitary conditions” implies that the antibiotics were used to
counteract an environment replete with bacteria. Hence, it is reasonable to infer that
the antibiotics were applied as a preventive measure to protect the animals from
catching an infectious disease in such an environment.
(A) The passage specifically points out that the antibiotics are not used “as a cure for
ongoing maladies” and describes such use as “non-therapeutic.”
(B) The passage is not concerned with genetic diseases.
(C) CORRECT. Since the use of antibiotics in the farm industry is specifically
described to be “non-therapeutic,” it cannot be used as a curative measure and,
therefore, is most likely used as a pre-emptive measure in order to prevent or protect
the animals from developing infectious diseases.
(D) The passage states that the antibiotics are administered to the animals in their
feed. Hence, it is clearly not used as a surface disinfectant.
(E) The antibiotics are orally administered to the animals in their feed. There is
nothing in the passage to suggest that a “physical barrier” is involved in any way.