Several cosmetics firms are committed to the active development, valid

Question

Several cosmetics firms are committed to the active development, validation, and adoption of new product-safety tests that use cultures of human cells. They argue that the new tests serve to reduce the need for tests on live animals.

The statements above most strongly support which one which one of the following conclusions?

(A) The pressure on cosmetics firms to cease conducting experiments that use live animals was initiated by groups of social activists.

(B) Consumers are no more likely to buy products whose safety was tested on cultures of human cells than they are to buy products whose safety was tested on animals.

(C) Financial consultants for the cosmetics firms believe that using human cell cultures rather than live animals to test product safety will cost the firm less in actual product development costs.

(D) Researchers in the cosmetics firms believe that fewer tests of products will be needed if cell cultures rather than live animals are used.

(E) Managers of the cosmetics firms believe that it is better for their firms not to perform tests on live animals if there is an acceptable alternative way of determining product safety.

ishan261288 · Accepted Answer

The last line of the question prompt is this.
"They argue that the new tests serve to reduce the need for tests on live animals."
You have to look at options which serves the purpose to reduce the need of testing on animals. You don't have to look out for options such a cost reduction etc. Now approach the choices. You will stuck between D and E. In D, researchers believe that fewer tests will be needed (BUT STILL NEEDED). Reduction in number of tests is not what we are looking for but the reduce the need for animal testing. E conveys this perfectly so the right answer.

Nups1324 · Answer

Hi ishan261288 I read your explanation, but I didn't understand it. If you could explain in a more detailed way then it'll be great. Thank you

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kris19 · Answer

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 we need to find the conclusion of the argument.

Firms are adopting new tests that use human cells to check the product (ie. cosmetics) safety. The managers of these firms believe that by adopting these new tests, they would get more accurate feedback of their products (ie. cosmetics). So, if this is case, then they can REDUCE number of tests using these products on animals or they can REDUCE variety of tests using these products on animals to find out the safety of the products.

We can conclude from the above reasoning that if there are better alternatives (ie. testing on human cells) to test the product (cosmetics) safety, then why to depend completely on testing these products on live animals. Though this conclusion is not exactly similar in words to choice E, but close to its meaning .

thelastskybender · Answer

I feel this is not a strengthen question but more like  strengthen question in reverse  i.e. "argument supports which of the following conclusion." 
The argument is about the new tests serving to reduce the need for tests on live animals. Hence it'll most strongly support the statement which aligns with the conclusion of the argument.

Keeping this in mind look at the options and you'll find that only E is the relevant one.

iamchinu97 · Answer

Several cosmetics firms are committed to the active development, validation, and adoption of new product-safety tests that use cultures of human cells. They argue that the new tests serve to reduce the need for tests on live animals.

The statements above most strongly support which one which one of the following conclusions?

ANS : We need to find the conclusion so treat the argument as a premise and from that premise we need to support our answer option so lets check the options

(A) The pressure on cosmetics firms to cease conducting experiments that use live animals was initiated by groups of social activists. =>  The premise or argument does not not anything about pressure on cosmetic firms for conducting experiments so this can't be our conclusion. irrelevant

(B) Consumers are no more likely to buy products whose safety was tested on cultures of human cells than they are to buy products whose safety was tested on animals. =>  The buying pattern of consumer and its info is not given in the argument or premise so we can't conclude on this. Out of Scope

(C) Financial consultants for the cosmetics firms believe that using human cell cultures rather than live animals to test product safety will cost the firm less in actual product development costs. =>  Again nothing is mentioned about costings of this testings so irrelevant

(D) Researchers in the cosmetics firms believe that fewer tests of products will be needed if cell cultures rather than live animals are used. =>  this is a trap option. it says fewer tests will be needed but our argument talks about  reducing the need  of animal testing. not fewer testing so be careful for this kind of question.

(E) Managers of the cosmetics firms believe that it is better for their firms not to perform tests on live animals if there is an acceptable alternative way of determining product safety. =>  this option is exactly inline with our premise our premise says that we will not have to rely on animal testing as we have alternate option of testing on human cell culture. so this is our ANS

ankitray · Answer

Like all GMAT questions, we need to stick to the premise provided to us.

(A) The pressure on cosmetics firms to cease conducting experiments that use live animals was initiated by groups of social activists. -  There is no mention of social activist in the question stem and hence this is out of scope.

(B) Consumers are no more likely to buy products whose safety was tested on cultures of human cells than they are to buy products whose safety was tested on animals. -  N  othing in the passage suggest this, so out of scope.

(C) Financial consultants for the cosmetics firms believe that using human cell cultures rather than live animals to test product safety will cost the firm less in actual product development costs. -  Nothing in the passage suggest this, so out of scope.

(D) Researchers in the cosmetics firms believe that fewer tests of products will be needed if cell cultures rather than live animals are used. -  Nothing in the passage suggest this, so out of scope.

(E) Managers of the cosmetics firms believe that it is better for their firms not to perform tests on live animals if there is an acceptable alternative way of determining product safety. -
 This summarizes the content of the passage and aligns with the term mentioned "reduce the need for tests" which aligns with the above belief that it would be better.

Several cosmetics firms are committed to the active development, valid

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