No one who has a sore throat need consult a doctor, because

Question

No one who has a sore throat need consult a doctor, because sore throats will recover without medical intervention. In recent years several cases of epiglottitis have occurred. Epiglottitis is a condition that begins with a sore throat and deteriorates rapidly in such a way that the throat becomes quite swollen, thus restricting breathing. Sometimes the only way to save a patient’s life in these circumstances is to insert a plastic tube into the throat below the blockage so that the patient can breathe. It is highly advisable in such cases that sufferers seek medical attention when the first symptoms occur, that is, before the condition deteriorates.

Which one of the following is the best statement of the flaw in the argument?

(A) The author draws a general conclusion on the basis of evidence of a particular instance.
(B) The author assumes that similar effects must have similar causes.
(C) The author uses a medical term, “epiglottitis,” and does not clarify its meaning.
(D) The author makes two claims that contradict each other.
(E) The author bases her conclusion at the end of the passage on inadequate evidence.

prasannar · Answer

D for me.

No one who has a sore throat need consult a doctor,  because sore throats will recover without medical intervention. In recent years several cases of epiglottitis have occurred. Epiglottitis is a condition that begins with a sore throat and deteriorates rapidly in such a way that the throat becomes quite swollen, thus restricting breathing. Sometimes the only way to save a patient’s life in these circumstances is to insert a plastic tube into the throat belowthe blockage so that the patient can breathe.  It is highly advisable in such cases that sufferers seek medical attention when the first symptoms occur , that is, before the condition deteriorates.

domleon · Answer

I prefer B - seems to be the more logical one, focusing in the causes of the flaw!

gmatcrook · Answer

yeah, going with D - two conflicting claims.

sayantanc2k · Answer

Option D is correct - the two contradicting claims are:
1.  No one  who has a sore throat need consult a doctor.
2. It is highly advisable in such cases that sufferers seek medical attention when the first symptoms (sore throat) occur.

abhishekdadarwal2009 · Answer

At first the author suggests against going to the doctor for sore throat but eventually suggests that one must seek medical help before the condition deteriorates but fails the describe the health issue further so that the patient can differentiate normal infection from the epiglo.....,therfore she is contradicting her own argument.

VKat · Answer

Hello Expert, could you please explain, why option 'b' is incorrect?

eswarchethu135 · Answer

OFFICIAL ANSWER:

The argument states initially that “no one who has a sore throat need consult a doctor.” However, it is then pointed out that “several cases of epiglottitis have occurred” and argued that for this condition, which begins with a sore throat and then deteriorates, it is “highly advisable” for sufferers to seek medical attention before the condition deteriorates, that is, when the symptom is a sore throat. So the author claims both that no one with a sore throat need seek medical attention and that some people with a sore throat do need to seek medical attention, and these claims contradict each other. Therefore, (D) is the credited response.

Response (A) is incorrect because the author does not clearly draw “a general conclusion on the basis of evidence of a particular instance” of anything. Even though a specific disease (epiglottitis) is discussed, no conclusion about diseases, in general, is drawn. And having this disease is discussed in terms of “several cases” and “sometimes,” not in terms of a “particular instance.”

Response (B) is incorrect because the author is not concerned with the causes of sore throats and epiglottitis.

Response (C) is incorrect because the meaning of the medical term “epiglottitis” is specified in the third and fourth sentences of the passage in sufficient detail for purposes of the argument.

Response (E) is incorrect because the evidence given in the third and fourth sentences of the passage is adequate for the conclusion that “it is highly advisable” in cases of epiglottitis “that sufferers seek medical attention when the first symptoms first occur.”

OPTION:  D

VerbalBot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot: 

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

 This post was generated automatically.

No one who has a sore throat need consult a doctor, because

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

No one who has a sore throat need consult a doctor, because

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