A certain viral infection is widespread among children, and about 30

The link ideas in passage are:
(1) Virus caused an infection in children => 30% of children had middle ear infections.
(2) The antibiotics treat bacterial only and have no effect on virus.
(3) However, the antibiotics treat middle ear infections in (1) well.

The correct answer is the one sets a connection between these facts.

(A) Although some types of antibiotics fail to clear up certain infections, other types of antibiotics might provide effective treatment for those infections.
Irrelevant as opposed to (2)

(B) Children infected with the virus are particularly susceptible to bacteria that infect the middle ear.
Correct. If children were infected by virus in (1), then this is a good condition for bacteria develop in the middle ear. That is the reason why the antibiotics could treat middle ear infections well.

(C) Many children who develop middle ear infections are not infected with the virus.
Irrelevant as opposed to (3)

(D) Most viral infections are more difficult to treat than are most bacterial infections.
Irrelevant. This choice can't explain what happened in (3)

(E) Among children not infected with the virus, fewer than 30 percent develop middle ear infections.
Irrelevant.

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.

Which one of the following most helps to explain the success of the treatments with antibiotics?

(A) Although some types of antibiotics fail to clear up certain infections, other types of antibiotics might provide effective treatment for those infections.

There is no discussion on types of antibiotics. Irrelevant.

(B) Children infected with the virus are particularly susceptible to bacteria that infect the middle ear.
It suggests real cause of infection is bacteria. That's why antibiotics cure this- able to join the dots of reasoning.
Also, it suggest infected with the virus are more prone to the bacteria. Right reasoning.
(C) Many children who develop middle ear infections are not infected with the virus.
Can not be concluded.

(D) Most viral infections are more difficult to treat than are most bacterial infections.
No comparison.

(E) Among children not infected with the virus, fewer than 30 percent develop middle ear infections.

No statistics on "children not infected with the virus"

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.

Which one of the following most helps to explain the success of the treatments with antibiotics?


(A) Although some types of antibiotics fail to clear up certain infections, other types of antibiotics might provide effective treatment for those infections.
out of scope
(B) Children infected with the virus are particularly susceptible to bacteria that infect the middle ear.
it explains that the middle ear infection is not caused by the viral infection, hence not being treated with antibiotics
(C) Many children who develop middle ear infections are not infected with the virus.
out of scope. this does not explains the discrepancy
(D) Most viral infections are more difficult to treat than are most bacterial infections.
out of scope
(E) Among children not infected with the virus, fewer than 30 percent develop middle ear infections.
this strengthen this argument

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?


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.
This matches our thought. Hang on to this.
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
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.
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.

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.

Which one of the following most helps to explain the success of the treatments with antibiotics?

(A) Although some types of antibiotics fail to clear up certain infections, other types of antibiotics might provide effective treatment for those infections. - WRONG. This might always be the case but we need specifics about antibiotics that help treat middle ear infection.

(B) Children infected with the virus are particularly susceptible to bacteria that infect the middle ear. - CORRECT. Not virus but bacteria is responsible for middle ear infection thus antibiotics help treat it.

(C) Many children who develop middle ear infections are not infected with the virus. - WRONG. What is the scale of 'many' here? Although we are not sure if that answer would be of any help.

(D) Most viral infections are more difficult to treat than are most bacterial infections. - WRONG. This comparison does not help.

(E) Among children not infected with the virus, fewer than 30 percent develop middle ear infections. - WRONG. Okay but this group is not our concern.

Answer B.

yes i thought the same for E can any expert please help ?

The key point in the problem is that antibiotics do not affect viruses but are effective in treating bacterial infections. Although the children are infected with a virus, the middle ear infections clear up when treated with antibiotics. This suggests that the ear infections are not directly caused by the virus; rather, the virus makes children more susceptible to a secondary bacterial infection in the middle ear.

Option (B) states that "Children infected with the virus are particularly susceptible to bacteria that infect the middle ear." This directly explains why antibiotics, which combat bacteria, are effective in treating the middle ear infections in these children.

The other answer choices do not address the connection between the viral infection and the susceptibility to a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics.

Thus, the best explanation for the observed phenomenon is provided by option (B).