Bunuel wrote:
The common use of the same types of antibiotics in medicine has two effects that are particularly worrisome. First, antibiotics can kill not only the infection, but also the bacteria that fights infections naturally. Second, antibiotics can give rise to drug-resistant infections, making it more difficult to treat patients.
Based on the passage above, one could assume that the effectiveness of the continued common use of antibiotics can be extended by doing which of the following, presuming each is a realistic proposition?
A Gradually increasing the amounts of antibiotics used.
B Not treating patients with antibiotics.
C Increasing research on drug-resistant infections.
D Using synthetic antibiotics only.
E Periodically switching the type of antibiotic used.
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
This is a supply the assumption question.
Identify the premises of the argument. In this example, the premises are: a) Antibiotics can kill infections, but also infection-fighting bacteria; and b) Antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant infections, making it more difficult to treat patients.
Identify the conclusion. The common use of the same antibiotics in medicine is worrisome.
What will complete the argument? This example is more challenging because it is not until the question posed after the argument that we find the clue we are looking for to complete the argument: one could assume that the effectiveness of the continued common use of antibiotics can be extended by...
Eliminate answer choices that do not work well. Choices A and B do not work as we are looking for a choice that will extend the effective use of current antibiotics. In the same vein, although C is a good idea, we are not trying to prescribe something other than finding a way to extend the effectiveness of current antibiotics. Choice D is easily eliminated, as types of antibiotics have not even entered into the argument. This leaves choice E as a realistic proposition, switching the current antibiotics periodically, given the information presented in the argument