A new antibacterial strategy works by using a chemical

Question

A new antibacterial strategy works by using a chemical combination that strips the biofilm layer of a bacteria and then kills the bacteria with disinfectant. The chemical combination only works where fluids are constantly present as in a water tube. As such, dentists will still need to continue using their sterilization techniques to disinfect their equipment.
 
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest grounds for a prediction that dentists will buy the new antibacterial chemical despite the need to continue using their conventional sterilization techniques as well?

(A) Bacteria are not the only impurities that must be removed from dentist equipment.
(B) Many dentist offices have old sterilization systems that need to be replaced.
(C) Conventional sterilization techniques have not been fully successful in killing bacteria in hard-to-reach water flowing areas.
(D) The new antibacterial chemical combination requires relatively little time to administer and is cheaper than an entire sterilization system.
(E) Dentists who use sterilization techniques rarely run into problems where patients suffer from bacterial infections.

C

The  original source  of this CR question is from the GMATPill Practice Pill Platform.

Aniketa · Accepted Answer

Even if you do not understand the medical science behind the entire passage, you atleast realize that there are two anti-bacterial sterilization methods - 
1) Conventional Sterilization
2) Antibacterial chemical

Any statement that necessitates both the approaches, would strengthen the need for buying antibacterial chemicals.

(A) Bacteria are not the only impurities that must be removed from dentist equipment. -  Antibacterial chemicals still only work on bacteria and hence this statement doesn't affect the need.
 
(B) Many dentist offices have old sterilization systems that need to be replaced. -  That doesn't make it mandatory to have both! The old systems may again be replaced by New systems based on conventional approach.
 
(C) Conventional sterilization techniques have not been fully successful in killing bacteria in hard-to-reach water flowing areas. -  This makes it completely necessary to have antibacterial chemicals since ONLY they can kill bacteria at inaccessible areas.

(D) The new antibacterial chemical combination requires relatively little time to administer and is cheaper than an entire sterilization system. -  This would mean a complete replacement with conventional sterilization system. What about cleaning of the equipment?

(E) Dentists who use sterilization techniques rarely run into problems where patients suffer from bacterial infections. -  Negates the requirement of antibacterial chemical altogether.

fameatop · Answer

A new antibacterial strategy works by using a chemical combination that strips the biofilm layer of a bacteria and then kills the bacteria with disinfectant. The chemical combination only works where fluids are constantly present as in a water tube. As such, dentists will still need to continue using their sterilization techniques to disinfect their equipment.
 
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest grounds for a prediction that dentists will buy the new antibacterial chemical despite the need to continue using their conventional sterilization techniques as well?
(A) Bacteria are not the only impurities that must be removed from dentist equipment.  - We want to know why dentist will use both kind of instruments & not what are the other impurities besides bacteria. Incorrect 
(B) Many dentist offices have old sterilization systems that need to be replaced. -  Its ok that dentists want to replace their old instruments but why would they keep both? No explanation. Incorrect 
(C) Conventional sterilization techniques have not been fully successful in killing bacteria in hard-to-reach water flowing areas . this statement clearly tells why new instrument is required along with old instrument. Correct 
(D) The new antibacterial chemical combination requires relatively little time to administer and is cheaper than an entire sterilization system.  -So what if new strategy requires less time. This statement fails to show why will dentists require old instruments. Incorrect 
(E) Dentists who use sterilization techniques rarely run into problems where patients suffer from bacterial infections.  -OFS

akijuneja · Answer

Hey guys
But doesn't the argument say that anti bacterial technique will not work if water is not present. 
And C too mentions hard to reach water flow so in this case anti bacterial will not be of much help why would doctors buy it. 
Please clarify

Posted from my mobile device

blueseas · Answer

hi,
no the argument says:..this trategy only works where  fluids  are constantly present as in a water tube.
means a FLUID is required and not necessary water.(fluid can be anything which is similar to water in water tube).
and Conventional sterilization techniques have not been fully successful in killing bacteria in  hard-to-reach water flowing areas

hence C
KUDOS if it helped

GMATPill · Answer

Posting solution:

https://www.gmatpill.com/criticalreasoning/practicepill/strengthens/Slide136.PNG

https://www.gmatpill.com/criticalreasoning/practicepill/strengthens/Slide137.PNG

https://www.gmatpill.com/criticalreasoning/practicepill/strengthens/Slide138.PNG

This CR question utilizes GMATPill CR Framework #4 "Regular Negation"

Rather than going through each answer choice and negating each one (this takes up tons of time), you want to discreetly have something in mind and see if any of the answer choices fit that negation that you have in mind. 
In this specific case, there are two options and there's a quick way to pre-think a possible negation in your head before looking at the answer choices.

Here are the two options:
1) Buy Antibacterial Chemical
2) Stick to Sterilization

We recognize the conclusion is that dentists will choose option 1 because of some benefit. Well, we can know for sure if there is some baseline and that the benefit that option 1 gives is an "incremental" benefit.

So if we can show that option 1 has a specific benefit and option 2 does not have that specific benefit (negation) then that means the specific benefit for option 1 which is "incremental" has been identified.

The negation strategy here fills our head with some pre-thinking. "Something that does not have this benefit, some base case before buying antibacterial chemical indicating the lack of such a benefit..." With that in mind, we come across the correct answer choice which indeed matches that pre-thinking.

By showing that:
Option 1 leads to some positive +
Option 2 leads to some negative - (without that incremental benefit)

Then we know option 2 is the "negation" that strengthens the argument that option 1 has incremental benefit and thus dentists will choose the option of buying the antibacterial chemical.

GMATPill · Answer

https://www.gmatpill.com/criticalreasoning/practicepill/strengthens/Slide139.PNG

https://www.gmatpill.com/criticalreasoning/practicepill/strengthens/Slide140.PNG

And here are the explanations for each answer choice.

Notice we went into the answer choices with Framework #4 Negation in mind. We used our prethinking of the two states:
Option 1 --> Positive
Option 2 --> Negative

And used that to help us quickly decide whether an answer choice matched our pre-thinking. Ultimately we found that (C) was the one that matched our pre-thinking.

docdrizzeally · Answer

reading long choices correctly thru all 5 choices consistently and repeatedly without reaching conclusions on the trot and going back to other choices. IF you miss a step , you might miss the answer C

reaching conclusions (making your choice) about whether argument strengthen s or weakens and being sure that the choice said conventional do no t hlp against deciding   conventional strategies help without water flow

GMAT888 · Answer

Answer is evident - C) Conventional sterilization techniques have not been fully successful in killing bacteria in hard-to-reach water flowing areas.

it stresses that conventional methods have not been successful, so in this hard to reach watery areas this new antiseptic definitely has an advantage, which makes it the right answer.

Konstantin1983 · Answer

This is a "new" version of a question from OG. Though a little bit different. Haha!

GMAT0010 · Answer

Among Options B , C and E:
B says : dentists want to replace the old system with a new one. Ok, fine, but they could have used any other system. Why only this new one?
C: It gives details about the need for this new system. Keep this one.
D: Price is mentioned , but is the effectiveness better than the existing system? We don't know. If the new system is less effective, then why replace it?
C is the best

VerbalBot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.

A new antibacterial strategy works by using a chemical

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

A new antibacterial strategy works by using a chemical

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards