Doctors, in Seeking a Cure for Aphroditis Melancholias, are Guided by their Research into the Causes of Metaeritocas Polymanias

Question: Doctors, in seeking a cure for aphroditis melancholias, are guided by their research into the causes of metaeritocas polymanias because the symptoms of the two diseases occur in populations of similar ages, manifesting symptoms in both cases of high fever, swollen glands, and lack of appetite. Moreover, the incubation period for both diseases is virtually identical. So these medical researchers are convinced that the virus responsible for aphroditis melancholias is very similar to that responsible for metaeritocas polymanias.

The conclusion of the author rests on the presupposition that

(A) metaeritocas polymanias is a more serious public health hazard than aphroditis melancholias|
(B) for every disease, modern medical science will eventually find a cure
(C) saving human life is the single most important goal of modern technology
(D) aphroditis melancholias is a disease that occurs only in human beings
(E) diseases with similar symptoms will have similar causes

Answer: E
Explanation:

A GMAT Critical Reasoning section comprises some facts and statements. In GMAT critical reasoning tests the candidates are tested on their reasoning, logical and analytical thinking abilities. The candidate has to deduce the correct option by finding the logically correct argument or by eliminating the irrelevant arguments.

When someone is writing a question about a topic, of course it has to be written in such a way that the test taker doesn't need specialized knowledge of that topic--but it's often overlooked that the question writer does need specialized knowledge of the topic.

The word "presupposition" is a very odd word in the prompt question. There are very few GMAT questions that use that word rather than "assumption" for an assumption. That's just a matter of being familiar with the language used on the test. We will check each options one by one

(A) metaeritocas polymanias is a more serious public health hazard than aphroditis melancholias - The passage does not state if metaeritocas polymanias is a more serious health hazard than aphroditis melancholias. The passage only talks about the symptoms that are similar. The seriousness of the hazard is missing.

(B) for every disease, modern medical science will eventually find a cure - TRhe last line of the passage states that the medical researchers are convinced that the virus responsible for aphroditis melancholias is very similar to that responsible for metaeritocas polymanias. However, there is nothing mentioned regarding the cure. Hence, this is not correct.

(C) saving human life is the single most important goal of modern technology - The author does not mention anything about the goal, though we can assume that the goal will be saving human life. The question does not ask about assumption, hence, this is also incorrect.

(D) aphroditis melancholias is a disease that occurs only in human beings - This fact is not yet proven as per the passage. There is nothing mentioned about the human beings though the symptoms mentioned occurs to humans. We can assume that this happens to humans. Again this is not based on assumptions.

(E) diseases with similar symptoms will have similar causes - The passage states that metaeritocas polymanias has similar symptoms like aphroditis melancholias. Hence this is a presupposition that is taken in the passage. Hence, E is the correct answer.

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