GMAT Club Around The World!!! A medical technology company recently de

Question

A medical technology company recently developed an altered design for the prosthetic hip that it produces. The intention behind the development of the new design was to reduce the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic. The medical trial of the new prosthetic hip showed a ten percent reduction in the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic. The project managers concluded that the new design did reduce the instance of prosthetic rejection.

Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the project managers' conclusion?

A. Further examination of the medical trial showed that the reduction in the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic could be wholly attributed to a reduction in the number of patients who reported symptoms consistent with the rejection.

B. The initial goal of the redesign project was to reduce the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic by at least thirty percent.

C. Although some experts have been arguing that the materials used in the company’s prosthetic hips are outdated and must be replaced, the new design does not make any changes in the materials used to build the prosthetics.

D. Since the new prosthetic hip design differs from the original only in the way its components are organized, the cost of the materials used in the prosthetic remains unchanged between designs.

E. During the trials, two thirds of the patients on whose bodies the newly designed prosthetics were implemented were younger than forty years, the age at which the human body’s acceptance of foreign objects begins declining.

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Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Experts' Global Official Explanation

Mind-map:  Medical company alters design of prosthetic hip --> goal was to reduce number of patients whose bodies rejected prosthetic --> trial showed ten percent reduction --> new design reduced the instance of prosthetic rejection (conclusion)

Missing-link:  Between the trial showing ten percent reduction and the conclusion that the new design reduced the instance of prosthetic rejection

Expectation from the correct answer choice:  To weaken the conclusion that the new design reduced the instance of prosthetic rejection

A. Trap. This answer choice, suggesting that the reduction in the instance of prosthetic rejection was because of a reduction in reporting symptoms of rejection, does not rule out the possibility that the reduction in reporting symptoms of rejection could be because of the new design; so, this answer choice simply adds information, which, although relevant to the broad context of the argument, does not weaken the conclusion. Because this answer choice does not weaken the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.

B. This answer choice, suggesting that the initial goal was to achieve thirty percent rejection, indicates that the project’s ten percent reduction fell short of its target; however, failure to meet the target does not dispute the view that the new design reduced the instance of prosthetic rejection; so, this answer choice is just additional detail, which, although relevant to the broad context of the argument, does not weaken the conclusion. Because this answer choice does not weaken the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.

C. This answer choice, suggesting that the new design has no changes in the material used, indicates the possibility that the design, rather than the material, caused the reduction, thus, if anything, strengthening, rather than weakening, the conclusion. Because this answer choice does not weaken the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.

D. This answer choice, suggesting that the new design differs from the old design in the organization of components but not in cost, indicates the possibility that the design, owing to the new organization of components, caused the reduction, thus strengthening, rather than weakening, the conclusion. Because this answer choice does not weaken the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.

E. Correct.  By suggesting that two thirds of patients in the trial were young enough to naturally accept prosthetics, this answer choice indicates the possibility that the reduction in prosthetic rejection may have been because of the patients’ bodies naturally accepting prosthetics and not necessarily because of the improved design of the prosthetics; such a possibility casts doubt on the cause-effect relationship between the new design and the reduction and indicates the presence of another cause for the reduction, thus weakening the conclusion. Because this answer choice weakens the claim, this answer choice is correct.

E is the best choice.

ElninoEffect · Answer

A. Further examination of the medical trial showed that the reduction in the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic could be wholly attributed to a reduction in the number of patients who reported symptoms consistent with the rejection.
 If this is true then the decline in number of rejections to the prosthetic can be attributed to the new design. We are looking for an option that why it's not the new design the reason behind the decline.

B. The initial goal of the redesign project was to reduce the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic by at least thirty percent.
 Even though the project was not able to achieve its target goal it tells me that it is the reason for the 10% decrease in the number of patients bodies rejecting the prosthetic.

C. Although some experts have been arguing that the materials used in the company’s prosthetic hips are outdated and must be replaced, the new design does not make any changes in the materials used to build the prosthetics.
 Relation between materials used and bodies reason for rejecting the same has not been made. We cannot infer anything from here.

D. Since the new prosthetic hip design differs from the original only in the way its components are organized, the cost of the materials used in the prosthetic remains unchanged between designs.
 What if it was because of the way prosthetic's components was designed that led to the higher rate of decline by patients body then the new design will certainly solve that problem and if it was not the reason then there was some other reason which we were looking for. Not sufficient.

E. During the trials, two thirds of the patients on whose bodies the newly designed prosthetics were implemented were younger than forty years, the age at which the human body’s acceptance of foreign objects begins declining. 
 Bingo. So if this is the case then that means the decline in rejection rate can be attributed to the portion of population on which it was tested rather than new technology being the reason for the decline. Exactly what we were looking for.

100mitra · Answer

A medical technology company recently developed an altered design for the prosthetic hip that it produces. 
The intention behind the development of the new design was 
to reduce the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic. 
The medical trial of the new prosthetic hip showed a ten percent 
reduction in the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic. 
The project managers concluded that  the new design did reduce the instance of prosthetic rejection .

Which of the following, if true,  casts most doubt on the project managers' conclusion ?

A. Further examination of the medical trial showed that
 the reduction in the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic could be wholly attributed to 
a reduction in the number of patients who reported symptoms consistent with the rejection.
 Wrong:  Not about the further examination trials

B. The initial goal of the redesign project was 
to reduce the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic by at least thirty percent.
 Correct:  against the 30% reduction, only 10% was the reduction, which demeaned the purpose of new design

C. Although some experts have been arguing that 
the materials used in the company’s prosthetic hips are outdated and must be replaced, 
the new design does not make any changes in the materials used to build the prosthetics.
 Wrong:  Not about material used

D. Since the new prosthetic hip design differs from the original only in the way its components are organized, 
the cost of the materials used in the prosthetic remains unchanged between designs.
 Wrong:  Not about cost

E. During the trials, two thirds of the patients on whose bodies the newly designed prosthetics were implemented were younger than forty years, 
the age at which the human body’s acceptance of foreign objects begins declining.
 Wrong:  Not about the age

gmatophobia · Answer

A. Further examination of the medical trial showed that the reduction in the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic could be wholly attributed to a reduction in the number of patients who reported symptoms consistent with the rejection.

Out of scope

B. The initial goal of the redesign project was to reduce the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic by at least thirty percent.

Distortion

C. Although some experts have been arguing that the materials used in the company’s prosthetic hips are outdated and must be replaced, the new design does not make any changes in the materials used to build the prosthetics.

Out of scope

D. Since the new prosthetic hip design differs from the original only in the way its components are organized, the cost of the materials used in the prosthetic remains unchanged between designs.

Cost is out of scope.

E. During the trials, two thirds of the patients on whose bodies the newly designed prosthetics were implemented were younger than forty years, the age at which the human body’s acceptance of foreign objects begins declining.

The study group was younger adults, hence was not representative of a wider population.

ChakAvi · Answer

A medical technology company recently developed an altered design for the prosthetic hip that it produces. The intention behind the development of the new design was to reduce the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic. The medical trial of the new prosthetic hip showed a ten percent reduction in the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic. The project managers concluded that the new design did reduce the instance of prosthetic rejection.

Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the project managers' conclusion?

A. Further examination of the medical trial showed that the reduction in the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic could be wholly attributed to a reduction in the number of patients who reported symptoms consistent with the rejection.  This Strengthens bcoz it shows that the reduction didn't come from any alternate group, but from the same group who rejected.

B. The initial goal of the redesign project was to reduce the number of patients whose bodies rejected the prosthetic by at least thirty percent.  % of goal achieved is irrelevant

C. Although some experts have been arguing that the materials used in the company’s prosthetic hips are outdated and must be replaced, the new design does not make any changes in the materials used to build the prosthetics.  Material component is irrelevant

D. Since the new prosthetic hip design differs from the original only in the way its components are organized, the cost of the materials used in the prosthetic remains unchanged between designs.  cost is out of scope

E. During the trials, two thirds of the patients on whose bodies the newly designed prosthetics were implemented were younger than forty years, the age at which the human body’s acceptance of foreign objects begins declining.  Correct. If trial was primarily carried out on those who have better acceptance rate, then it provides an alternate explanation why the result showed a reduction.

IMO Answer E

VerbalBot · Answer

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