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12 Mar 2024, 12:42
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A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
95%
(hard)
Question Stats:
40% (02:02) correct
60%
(02:19)
wrong
based on 225
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Doctor: Several blood factors are associated with Disease X. The presence of any one of them signals the presence of the disease. But in more than half of the people in the early stages of the disease when it is most treatable, one or more of these factors is not found. So if blood is tested for each of these factors, not just one, the disease, wherever present, will be accurately diagnosed, even in its early stage.
Which of the following is an assumption the doctor's argument requires?
A. There are few if any cases of Disease X in which none of the blood factors associated with the disease is present in the early stages.
B. Most cases of Disease X that are identified in the early stages are eventually cured.
C. There is at least one blood factor associated with Disease X that appears in most people who are beyond the disease's early stages.
D. There are no factors, other than the blood factors mentioned, that are frequently found in cases of Disease X.
E. Any disease can be diagnosed more reliably by using several different tests rather than by using just one.
Which of the following is an assumption the doctor's argument requires?
A. There are few if any cases of Disease X in which none of the blood factors associated with the disease is present in the early stages.
B. Most cases of Disease X that are identified in the early stages are eventually cured.
C. There is at least one blood factor associated with Disease X that appears in most people who are beyond the disease's early stages.
D. There are no factors, other than the blood factors mentioned, that are frequently found in cases of Disease X.
E. Any disease can be diagnosed more reliably by using several different tests rather than by using just one.
20 Mar 2024, 20:35
Kudos
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A. There are few if any cases of Disease X in which none of the blood factors associated with the disease is present in the early stages.
- This assumption suggests that the absence of all blood factors associated with Disease X in the early stages of the disease is rare or unlikely. If this were true, it would strengthen the argument's conclusion that testing for each blood factor would accurately diagnose the disease in its early stage. Therefore, option (A) is the correct answer.
B. Most cases of Disease X that are identified in the early stages are eventually cured.
- This assumption pertains to the prognosis or outcome of Disease X and is not directly related to the argument about the accuracy of diagnosing the disease in its early stage. Therefore, this assumption is not necessary for the argument's logic.
C. There is at least one blood factor associated with Disease X that appears in most people who are beyond the disease's early stages.
- This assumption focuses on the presence of blood factors associated with Disease X in individuals beyond the early stages of the disease. While it may be relevant to the argument, it does not directly address the accuracy of diagnosing the disease in its early stage. Therefore, this assumption is not essential for the argument's logic.
D. There are no factors, other than the blood factors mentioned, that are frequently found in cases of Disease X.
- This assumption limits the factors associated with Disease X to those mentioned in the argument. However, it does not directly support the argument's conclusion about the accuracy of diagnosing the disease in its early stage. Therefore, this assumption is not necessary for the argument's logic.
E. Any disease can be diagnosed more reliably by using several different tests rather than by using just one.
- This assumption is overly broad and generalizes the diagnostic process for all diseases. It does not specifically address the accuracy of diagnosing Disease X based on the presence of multiple blood factors. Therefore, this assumption is not directly relevant to the argument.
- This assumption suggests that the absence of all blood factors associated with Disease X in the early stages of the disease is rare or unlikely. If this were true, it would strengthen the argument's conclusion that testing for each blood factor would accurately diagnose the disease in its early stage. Therefore, option (A) is the correct answer.
B. Most cases of Disease X that are identified in the early stages are eventually cured.
- This assumption pertains to the prognosis or outcome of Disease X and is not directly related to the argument about the accuracy of diagnosing the disease in its early stage. Therefore, this assumption is not necessary for the argument's logic.
C. There is at least one blood factor associated with Disease X that appears in most people who are beyond the disease's early stages.
- This assumption focuses on the presence of blood factors associated with Disease X in individuals beyond the early stages of the disease. While it may be relevant to the argument, it does not directly address the accuracy of diagnosing the disease in its early stage. Therefore, this assumption is not essential for the argument's logic.
D. There are no factors, other than the blood factors mentioned, that are frequently found in cases of Disease X.
- This assumption limits the factors associated with Disease X to those mentioned in the argument. However, it does not directly support the argument's conclusion about the accuracy of diagnosing the disease in its early stage. Therefore, this assumption is not necessary for the argument's logic.
E. Any disease can be diagnosed more reliably by using several different tests rather than by using just one.
- This assumption is overly broad and generalizes the diagnostic process for all diseases. It does not specifically address the accuracy of diagnosing Disease X based on the presence of multiple blood factors. Therefore, this assumption is not directly relevant to the argument.
02 Oct 2025, 03:32
Kudos
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Answer: A.
**Why:** The doctor’s conclusion — that testing for *each* of the blood factors will correctly diagnose Disease X even in its early (most treatable) stage — depends on the unstated assumption that no early-stage patient lacks **all** of those factors. In other words, for testing every factor to guarantee detection, each case must have at least one of the factors present. Choice A says essentially that: there are few (if any) cases in which *none* of the factors is present in the early stage. That’s exactly what the argument needs.
Why the others fail (briefly):
B is about cure rates, irrelevant to diagnosis.
C concerns factors in later stages — also irrelevant.
D rules out other non-mentioned factors, which the argument doesn’t require.
E is an overgeneralization (applies to any disease) and is much stronger than what the doctor needs; the doctor only needs that at least one of *these* factors appears in each early-stage case.
**Why:** The doctor’s conclusion — that testing for *each* of the blood factors will correctly diagnose Disease X even in its early (most treatable) stage — depends on the unstated assumption that no early-stage patient lacks **all** of those factors. In other words, for testing every factor to guarantee detection, each case must have at least one of the factors present. Choice A says essentially that: there are few (if any) cases in which *none* of the factors is present in the early stage. That’s exactly what the argument needs.
Why the others fail (briefly):
B is about cure rates, irrelevant to diagnosis.
C concerns factors in later stages — also irrelevant.
D rules out other non-mentioned factors, which the argument doesn’t require.
E is an overgeneralization (applies to any disease) and is much stronger than what the doctor needs; the doctor only needs that at least one of *these* factors appears in each early-stage case.
