Official OA
Step 1: Identify the QuestionThe words support the scientists’ reasoning in the question stem indicate that this is a Strengthen the Argument question.
Step 2: Deconstruct the Argument Mice w/ virus: ABs bind to P, destroy virus
Mice w/ HV get ker. (eye disease)
P in eye similar to P in HV
© ker. caused by ABs
This argument describes a somewhat complex line of reasoning related to viral infections in mice. Normally, antibodies (ABs) bind to proteins (P) to destroy a virus. In one specific virus, herpesvirus (HV), mice develop a complication called keratitis. The conclusion of the argument explains why this occurs. Scientists believe that antibodies bind to the proteins in the mice’s eyes, similar to how they would bind to the proteins on the herpesvirus, and that this causes keratitis.
Step 3: Pause and State the GoalOn Strengthen the Argument questions, the right answer will make the conclusion more likely to be correct. The conclusion of this argument attempts to explain why mice with herpesvirus develop keratitis. The right answer should suggest that this explanation is correct, either by offering additional evidence for the explanation, or by disproving alternative explanations.
Step 4: Work from Wrong to Right
(A) This answer choice does not strengthen the argument unless further assumptions are made. If there were evidence that antibodies frequently bond to proteins on the surface of organs, and that this bonding frequently causes disease in mice, this evidence would strengthen the argument. However, just knowing that there are other viruses with surface proteins that are similar to other organs does not create a link between keratitis and HV antibodies.
(B) This answer choice actually suggests that antibodies and keratitis are not linked, which weakens the scientists’ conclusion.
(C) CORRECT. If mice were infected with a different strain of herpesvirus, with different proteins, and did not develop keratitis, the keratitis was probably caused by the presence of specific proteins in the original herpesvirus. Since this reasoning is part of the scientists’ conclusion, this answer choice strengthens the argument.
(D) The conclusion states specifically that these cases of keratitis—that is, the cases in herpesvirus-infected mice—are caused by antibodies. Other cases of herpesvirus are not relevant to the argument.
(E) The conclusion deals with the cause of keratitis, not the cause of herpesvirus. Without knowing whether the mice described in this answer choice develop keratitis, they can’t be used as evidence for the conclusion.