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655-705 (Hard)|   Inference|      
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating Updated on: 14 Feb 2024, 23:41
Originally posted by guerrero25 on 30 Jul 2013, 00:04.
Last edited by Bunuel on 14 Feb 2024, 23:41, edited 2 times in total.
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60% (01:44) correct 40% (01:43) wrong based on 756 sessions

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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating some serious diseases. Nevertheless, it cannot be stated that antibiotics are always beneficial for human health, since they are known to reduce immune system activity, and persons with reduced immune system activity are likely to be afflicted by various infectious diseases.

Which of the following statements can be properly inferred from the passage above?

(A) Treatment of some diseases always results in reduced immune system activity.
(B) Antibiotics are the only effective means of treating some infectious diseases.
(C) New medications will be developed in the future to replace antibiotics.
(D) Reduction of immune system activity caused by antibiotics can be avoided by taking some other medications that increase immune system activity.
(E) Antibiotics are the major cause of reduced immune system activity.
 
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A
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 30 Jul 2013, 01:00
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guerrero25
Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating some serious diseases. Nevertheless, it cannot be stated that antibiotics are always beneficial for human health, since they are known to reduce immune system activity, and persons with reduced immune system activity are likely to be afflicted by various infectious diseases.

Which of the following statements can be properly inferred from the passage above?
(A)Treatment of some diseases always results in reduced immune system activity.
(B)Antibiotics are the only effective means of treating some infectious diseases.
(C)New medications will be developed in the future to replace antibiotics.
(D)Reduction of immune system activity caused by antibiotics can be avoided by taking some other medications that increase immune system activity.
(E)Antibiotics are the major cause of reduced immune system activity.


OA to follow //
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IMO A

(A)Treatment of some diseases always results in reduced immune system activity.==>correct
(B)Antibiotics are the only effective means of treating some infectious diseases.==>IN ARGUMENT:Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating some serious diseases
(C)New medications will be developed in the future to replace antibiotics.
OUT OF SCOPE
(D)Reduction of immune system activity caused by antibiotics can be avoided by taking some other medications that increase immune system activity.
OUT OF SCOPE
(E)Antibiotics are the major cause of reduced immune system activity.==>We cant infer whether they are the major cause or not.
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 30 Jul 2013, 01:20
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guerrero25
Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating some serious diseases. Nevertheless, it cannot be stated that antibiotics are always beneficial for human health, since they are known to reduce immune system activity, and persons with reduced immune system activity are likely to be afflicted by various infectious diseases.

Which of the following statements can be properly inferred from the passage above?
(A)Treatment of some diseases always results in reduced immune system activity.
(B)Antibiotics are the only effective means of treating some infectious diseases.
(C)New medications will be developed in the future to replace antibiotics.
(D)Reduction of immune system activity caused by antibiotics can be avoided by taking some other medications that increase immune system activity.
(E)Antibiotics are the major cause of reduced immune system activity.


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I found A true in the scope of the available information given. A, B is not supported by available information. Nothing refers to C or E
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 30 Jul 2013, 01:31
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I would just add my 2 cents on A vs B, because the other options have been already discussed.

Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating some serious diseases.
(...)
activity are likely to be afflicted by various infectious diseases.
Even if the text mentions infectious diseases, we do not know whether antibiotics can cure them because the text does not say so.
(B)Antibiotics are the only effective means of treating some infectious diseases.

(A)Treatment of some diseases (the one treated with antibiotics) always results in reduced immune system activity (they are known to reduce immune system activity).

IMO A
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 30 Jul 2013, 06:20
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Inference questions ask you to choose the answer which can be show to be true based only on the information in the passage. Correct answers will not bring in new information. This particular questions gives several facts all of which could be related to inferences so it is best to read the passage and then work to eliminate answers on the basis of new information or something that is incorrect on the basis of the text - spending a lot of time predicting answers may not increase speed or accuracy.
guerrero25
Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating some serious diseases. Nevertheless, it cannot be stated that antibiotics are always beneficial for human health, since they are known to reduce immune system activity, and persons with reduced immune system activity are likely to be afflicted by various infectious diseases.

Which of the following statements can be properly inferred from the passage above?
(A)Treatment of some diseases always results in reduced immune system activity.If some diseases are treated by antibiotics and antibiotics are known to reduce immune activity this statement must be true, therefore this is the correct answer
(B)Antibiotics are the only effective means of treating some infectious diseases.This answer seems to be a direct repeat of one of the statements in the paragraph, and as such would be a good answer. However upon closer inspection you notice a word shift. The paragraph uses the word serious diseases and the answer uses infectious diseases. Because the paragraph does not discuss infectious diseases, this cannot be the answer
(C)New medications will be developed in the future to replace antibiotics.[color=#ed1c24]The paragraph does not give any facts about the future, therefore this answer is beyond the subject matter of the argument[/color]
(D)Reduction of immune system activity caused by antibiotics can be avoided by taking some other medications that increase immune system activity.Other medications is beyond the scope of the facts in the argument, thus this cannot be the answer
(E)Antibiotics are the major cause of reduced immune system activity.The words major cause make this out of scope - the paragraph gives no basis for comparison or ranking of causes


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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 08 Jan 2014, 06:08
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Hey Guys...if I answer the question, it doesn't show in my question history...it is always stated as "not sure" even though I picked A, which is correct.

Reasoning: B is out of scope, C repeats the statement, D is out of scope and E is out of scope because of the wording "major" cause.

Greets!

PS: I have the same problem with this question: topic-143744.html

Maybe the timer has to be fixed?!

Thanks for your help!
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 17 Apr 2014, 01:27
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effectivemeans of treating someserious diseases. Nevertheless, it cannot be stated that antibiotics are always beneficial for human health, since they are known to reduce immune system activity, and persons with reduced immune system activity are likely to be afflicted by various infectious diseases.

Which of the following statements can be properly inferred from the passage above?
(A)Treatment of some diseases always results in reduced immune system activity. SOME DESEASES CAN ONLY BE TREATED BY ANTIBIOTICS, BUT ANTIBIOTICS ARE KNOWN TO REDUCE IMMUNITY...... HENCE THE ANSWER STATEMENT IS CORRECT
(B)Antibiotics are the only effective means of treating some infectious diseases.----NOT SOME INFECTIOUS DESEASES BUT SOME SERIOUSDESEASES---MAY OR NOT BE INFECTIOUS...
(C)New medications will be developed in the future to replace antibiotics.----WHY BE SO OPTIMISTIC.. WHO KNOWS....
(D)Reduction of immune system activity caused by antibiotics can be avoided by taking some other medications that increase immune system activity...NO ONE SAID THAT?.....
(E)Antibiotics are the major cause of reduced immune system activity....ANTIBIOTICS ARE KNOWN TO REDUCE IMMUNITY.....BUT WHO SAID IT'S A MAJOR CAUSE?....


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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 01 Jul 2014, 12:43
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effectivemeans of treating someserious diseases. Nevertheless, it cannot be stated that antibiotics are always beneficial for human health, since they are known to reduce immune system activity, and persons with reduced immune system activity are likely to be afflicted by various infectious diseases.

Which of the following statements can be properly inferred from the passage above?
(A)Treatment of some diseases always results in reduced immune system activity. SOME DESEASES CAN ONLY BE TREATED BY ANTIBIOTICS, BUT ANTIBIOTICS ARE KNOWN TO REDUCE IMMUNITY...... HENCE THE ANSWER STATEMENT IS CORRECT
(B)Antibiotics are the only effective means of treating some infectious diseases.----NOT SOME INFECTIOUS DESEASES BUT SOME SERIOUSDESEASES---MAY OR NOT BE INFECTIOUS...
(C)New medications will be developed in the future to replace antibiotics.----WHY BE SO OPTIMISTIC.. WHO KNOWS....
(D)Reduction of immune system activity caused by antibiotics can be avoided by taking some other medications that increase immune system activity...NO ONE SAID THAT?.....
(E)Antibiotics are the major cause of reduced immune system activity....ANTIBIOTICS ARE KNOWN TO REDUCE IMMUNITY.....BUT WHO SAID IT'S A MAJOR CAUSE?....


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hello...!
i dint select A since it dint mention the use of antibiotics in treatment...the treatment can be made from other forms of treatment...specific exercises as prescribed by physician,yoga nd derr many such tretments..wat say?
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 18 Apr 2016, 21:01
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I am torn between A and B.

I did notice the "infectious diseases" in B, but I went with it because
1. infectious diseases can be serious too, right?
2. extreme phrasing of A. Treatment of some diseases "always results" in reduced immune system activity. Doesnt seem like the kind of language GMAC would use
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 24 Jun 2017, 18:34
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although A sounds extreme, A is correct because of "always"
B is out because it repeats a sentence. This is an inference question.
C is wrong because of "new medication". It can be correct if it says "new antibiotics". In that case, there might be 2 correct answer.
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 07 Apr 2018, 07:26
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VeritasPrepKarishma , abhimahna

I am having trouble solving this question. Although A and B booth look strong contenders, I am finding it difficult to select one of the 2 because of the following reasons:

(A) Treatment of some diseases always results in reduced immune system activity.
Problem: Antibiotics are known to reduce immunity. That doesn't mean that they always do

(B)Antibiotics are the only effective means of treating some infectious diseases.
Problem: It's given that they are the only effective means of treating some serious diseases not infectious diseases

Decided to go with B only to learn that it's the wrong choice
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 07 Apr 2018, 08:12
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prateek176
VeritasPrepKarishma , abhimahna

I am having trouble solving this question. Although A and B booth look strong contenders, I am finding it difficult to select one of the 2 because of the following reasons:

(A) Treatment of some diseases always results in reduced immune system activity.
Problem: Antibiotics are known to reduce immunity. That doesn't mean that they always do

(B)Antibiotics are the only effective means of treating some infectious diseases.
Problem: It's given that they are the only effective means of treating some serious diseases not infectious diseases

Decided to go with B only to learn that it's the wrong choice
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Hey prateek176 ,

I am happy to help. :)

Your reasoning for B is 100% correct and hence it should be rejected.

Now , the key word to note in option A is "some".

A) Treatment of some diseases always results in reduced immune system activity.

Option A tells us there will always be "some" diseases that will reduce the immune system activity because we know that the only means for them to be treated is Antibiotics.

This question can be easily solved if you pay careful attention to each and every word of the answer choices(You did this for B but missed in A. ) :)

Does that make sense?
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 07 Apr 2018, 08:24
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abhimahna
prateek176
VeritasPrepKarishma , abhimahna

I am having trouble solving this question. Although A and B booth look strong contenders, I am finding it difficult to select one of the 2 because of the following reasons:

(A) Treatment of some diseases always results in reduced immune system activity.
Problem: Antibiotics are known to reduce immunity. That doesn't mean that they always do

(B)Antibiotics are the only effective means of treating some infectious diseases.
Problem: It's given that they are the only effective means of treating some serious diseases not infectious diseases

Decided to go with B only to learn that it's the wrong choice

Hey prateek176 ,

I am happy to help. :)

Your reasoning for B is 100% correct and hence it should be rejected.

Now , the key word to note in option A is "some".

A) Treatment of some diseases always results in reduced immune system activity.

Option A tells us there will always be "some" diseases that will reduce the immune system activity because we know that the only means for them to be treated is Antibiotics.

This question can be easily solved if you pay careful attention to each and every word of the answer choices(You did this for B but missed in A. ) :)

Does that make sense?
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abhimahna
I understood that Option A tells us there will always be "some" diseases that will reduce the immune system activity because we know that the only means for them to be treated is Antibiotics.
However, Antibiotics are known to reduce immunity(as written in second line). That doesn't mean that they always reduce immunity. Still confused :roll:
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 07 Apr 2018, 08:43
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prateek176

abhimahna
I understood that Option A tells us there will always be "some" diseases that will reduce the immune system activity because we know that the only means for them to be treated is Antibiotics.
However, Antibiotics are known to reduce immunity(as written in second line). That doesn't mean that they always reduce immunity. Still confused :roll:
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Hey prateek176 ,

When I am saying antibiotics are "known" to reduce immunity, it means there is atleast one scenario where it is reducing the immunity.

Thus we are saying "in case of some diseases, it always reduces the immunity".

Let's say I have 100 diseases. Now, if I treat these diseases with antibiotics, a couple of them are getting affected.Thist means I can confidently say that there are "some" that are affected "always".

I hope its clear now. :)
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Antibiotics prove to be the only effective means of treating 04 Sep 2023, 04:35
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