Logical reasoning PrepTest 101 · Section 3 · Question 6

Incorrect. If anything, this answer is attempting to link asthmagon to the increase in deaths, which would strengthen the argument for its ban. However, it fails to even do that as it looks only at ï81 to ï87, whereas asthmagon has been "long considered" the best of this class of asthma medication.

Incorrect. This answer doesn't add much to the argument. If this group had previously been given a beta-2 agonist, then it might suggest that asthmagon has something in it not in the others that triggers serious side effects.

Incorrect. What physicians are doing despite concern doesn't speak to the reality of whether the drug should be banned or not based on the serious side effects suffered by a significant number of people in the study.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Weaken

Stimulus Summary:
Studies - 20% of people taking asthmagon had serious side effects
Therefore - Asthmagon should be banned

Answer Anticipation:
Let's be sure that we spent the time to clearly define the task here—we're meant to weaken the argument in favor of banning asthmagon. So we should start by asking—why do the doctors in the conclusion believe it should be banned?

That recommendation is based on a study showing that one out of five asthma patients on asthmagon suffered from "serious side effects." So, in short, any answer that calls into question whether that statistic (_ of people facing serious side effects) suggests a drug should be banned will weaken this argument.

We should take a second to think more specifically—why might that not suggest a ban? Maybe the serious side effects aren't as serious as an asthma attack. Maybe _ patients having serious side effects isn't a large enough proportion to call for a ban. Maybe patients should be able to make this call. Or maybe the patients who suffer those serious side effects are a specific subset of asthma sufferers, and thus a complete ban is unwarranted (instead, that group shouldn't be prescribed it). Let's find any answer in this vein.

Answer Explanation:
This answer suggests that there is a specific subset of asthma sufferers for whom asthmagon poses a risk of serious side effects. If that's the case, then a total ban on the drug is unwarranted—it could just be prescribed only to asthma sufferers who don't have high blood pressure—making this the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
Conclusions that are absolutely strong—there's no way around a ban—are very unlikely to be valid because even a single counterexample would undercut that conclusion. As such, when you see such a strong conclusion, start to think about whether there are potential exceptions to it.

Incorrect. It makes asthma worse and causes heart damage? If anything, that's a reason to ban it.