Drug companies say that direct-to-consumer advertising

Question

Drug companies say that direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines produces a more educated consumer. Yet many of their commercials do not even tell the consumer what the advertised drug is supposed to do - presumably because, according to federal regulations, drug companies do not need to mention side effects if they do not say what the drug does. It is reasonable to infer, therefore, that much direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines _________________.

Which of the following most logically completes the passage?

(A) does not leave consumers inadequately informed about the medicines in question
(B) is not truly designed to produce a more educated consumer
(C) boosts consumption of such medicines
(D) is intended to have a direct impact on doctors rather than on their patients
(E) is probably less effective than other forms of marketing used by drug companies

tgsankar10 · Answer

Drug companies say that D2C advertising of prescription medicines produces a more educated consumer. But their advertisements does not give complete information about the drug, thus fails to educate the consumer. We can observe a paradox here. The correct answer will help to explain this paradox

(A)  does not leave consumers inadequately informed about the medicines in question

NOT CORRECT.  This is exact opposite to the passage. D2C advertising  does  leave consumers inadequately informed about the medicines in question since they do not even tell the consumer what the advertised drug is supposed to do and their side effects

(B)  is not truly designed to produce a more educated consumer

CORRECT.   If this inference is true, then the advertisements are not intended to produce a more educated consumer. There may be other reasons why D2C produces a more educated customer.

(C)  boosts consumption of such medicines

NOT CORRECT.  Consumption of medicine is irrelevant to this argument

(D)  is intended to have a direct impact on doctors rather than on their patients

NOT CORRECT.  D2C's effect on doctors is not in the scope of this argument. It only discusses the effect on Consumers alone.

(E)  is probably less effective than other forms of marketing used by drug companies

NOT CORRECT.  Effectiveness of this or other forms of marketing strategy is not relevant. Also effectiveness on which paramteres, whether in sales or ability to produce a more educated consumer is not specified.

Answer: B

Kavicogsci · Answer

In Inference Q/s it is wise to stay within scope of the argument than assume new information for which there may not be substanial evidence

Understand the argument is key -
Drug Cos POV: Lets advertise direct to consumer - Why? More educated consumer. Interesting!

Author's POV: But these commericals dont tell anything on what the drugs do? (Why?) Cause if cos dont tell what drugs do, they have no compulsion to speak about side effects. Interesting!

This implies side effects may not be spoken yet in most commercials. How can you be an educated consumer without knowing both pros and cons. This defeats the initial commentary by Drugs Co.

Now lets go through the options

(A) does not leave consumers inadequately informed about the medicines in question - There is double negative so this option meams it leaves consumer adequately informed. Absolutely opposite to intended effect!

(B) is not truly designed to produce a more educated consumer - Yes
(C) boosts consumption of such medicines - No evidence - we are just assuming stuff
(D) is intended to have a direct impact on doctors rather than on their patients - No evidence - we are just assuming stuff
(E) is probably less effective than other forms of marketing used by drug companies - No evidence - we are just assuming stuff

Dbrunik · Answer

The passage suggests that drug companies claim their direct-to-consumer advertising aims to make consumers more knowledgeable. However, the ads often omit what the drug actually does, which allows them to avoid mentioning side effects. This omission, in turn, leaves consumers with only partial information and does not genuinely serve to educate them about the medication's purpose or risks.

Given this reasoning, it is most logical to conclude that such advertising strategies are not really intended to create more informed consumers, but rather to generate interest or demand without providing full, transparent information. Therefore, option (B) best completes the argument.

Drug companies say that direct-to-consumer advertising

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Drug companies say that direct-to-consumer advertising

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards