A cancer drug that shows positive results in early laboratory tests ca

A cancer drug that shows positive results in early laboratory tests can generate a great deal of interest from cancer patients. Because of this interest, and the desire to make a profit… early in the development cycle, many pharmaceutical companies rush the new drug to market as quickly as possible. But positive early results are often misleading, meaning that the effort to bring the drug to market was largely wasted. Consequently, the strategy to maximize long-term profi…t from a new cancer drug is to bring the drug to market only after its positive effects are more thoroughly tested and established.

In the argument above, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The …first is a consideration that has been raised to argue that a certain strategy is counterproductive; the second presents an alternative strategy.
First Bold faced doesn't say the first strategy is counter productive. It just provides the reason why this strategy should be pursued. 2nd boldface is correct

(B) The first is a consideration raised to support the strategy that the argument recommends; the second presents that strategy.
It is not the strategy which is recommended by the passage, in fact it says it is counter productive. 2nd BF is ok.

(C) The …first is a consideration raised to explain the appeal of a certain strategy; the second presents an alternative strategy.
Looks good.

(D) The …first is an assumption, rejected by the argument, that has been used to justify a course of action; the second presents that course of action.
First is not an assumption to justify the course of action which the argument recommends. It just explains why the first strategy is adopted by the companies. 2nd BF represents another strategy which needs to be adopted.

(E) The …first is a consideration that has been used to justify pursuing a goal that the argument rejects; the second presents a course of action that has been adopted in pursuit of that goal.
1st BF is correct. 2nd BF says the strategy is adopted but in the argument it doesn't say it is adopted but the strategy is suggested by the author.

Lets break down the argument

1. A cancer drug that shows positive results in early laboratory tests can generate a great deal of interest from cancer patients. (Premise)

2. Because of this interest, and the desire to make a profit early in the development cycle, many pharmaceutical companies rush the new drug to market as quickly as possible (Minor Conclusion)

3. But positive early results are often misleading, meaning that the effort to bring the drug to market was largely wasted. (Premise - Counter)

4. Consequently, the strategy to maximize long-term profit from a new cancer drug is to bring the drug to market only after its positive effects are more thoroughly tested and established (Main Conclusion)



Although the second bold face does present an alternate strategy, the first bold face doesn't really say anything about productivity of the strategy. Eliminate.



The first boldface does not support the main conclusion of the argument. Eliminate



Yes. The first boldface does explain the appeal by stating the reason why pharma companies rush the new drugs to markets so quickly, and the second boldface suggests implementing a different strategy to maximize long term profit. Correct Answer!



While the argument does counter the first boldface, indicated by use of transitional "but", the argument in its scope does not reject the first boldface. Eliminate.



The second boldface, at its best, suggests a course of action. We dont know if the course was adopted. Eliminate.