This pain relief product can be bought over the counter or in a strong

Question

This pain relief product can be bought over the counter or in a stronger form with a prescription. But according to this pamphlet, for the prescription strength product to be effective it must be taken at the immediate onset of pain, it must be taken every four hours thereafter, and it cannot be taken with any dairy products. So it actually doesn’t matter whether you use the prescription strength or the over-the-counter strength product.

Which one of the following best identifies the flaw in the above argument?

(A) The fact that many people could not live a full life without the prescription strength product cannot be ignored.

(B) It cannot be concluded that just because the prescription strength product has certain guidelines and restrictions on its use that it is not more effective.

(C) It does not consider that complications may arise from the prescription strength product.

(D) It fails to consider that other products may be more effective in relieving pain.

(E) It is unreasonable to assume that the over-the-counter strength product does not have similar restrictions and guidelines for its use.

Source:   Nova GMAT  
Difficulty Level:   650

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Here is the simplified argument --

Prescription drug must be taken immediately + It must be taken every 4 hours + It cannot be taken with dairy products   --> Does not matter whether a person uses the prescription or OTC form of the product

This is not a strong argument. There is a massive jump from "too many restrictions" to "does not matter whether a person takes prescription or OTC drug".

Option A - Incorrect

Does not relate to the conclusion -- "Does not matter whether a person uses the prescription or OTC form of the product".
the conclusion is actually trying to say that there is no difference between taking the prescription form and the OTC form of the product. This option does not point out a weakness in the conclusion.

Option B - Correct answer

this directly talks about the weakness in the argument. WE cannot simply conclude that there is no difference in effectiveness between OTC and prescription form just because the prescription form has too many restrictions on its consumption.

Option C - Incorrect

the conclusion is actually trying to say that there is no difference between taking the prescription form and the OTC form of the product. This option does not point out a weakness in the conclusion.

Option D - Incorrect

Other products are not relevant. We are comparing the effectiveness of OTC and prescription form of the drug.

Option E - Incorrect

"It is unreasonable" suggests that OTC medication does not have same restrictions on its use as the prescription drug does. This kind of strengthens the conclusion.

shekyonline · Answer

E does not compare the strengths . B is more appropriate in this regard.

B.

gvij2017 · Answer

Though I marked correct answer choice, please, explain B.
I didn't get the last phrase...that it is not more effective.

ultimateashish · Answer

To understand how E is wrong use negation, which results in following statement: It is reasonable to assume that the over-the-counter strength product does not have similar restrictions and guidelines for its use. Negation of option E seems correct.

This pain relief product can be bought over the counter or in a strong

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