Epidemiologist: In Brazil
Epidemiologist: In Brazil, schistosomiasis and malaria are the two most common infectious diseases. Over the past five years, schistosomiasis has been primarily responsible for the overall increase in infectious disease cases. Therefore it is likely that there were more cases of schistosomiasis than malaria five years ago.
Which of the following most strengthens the argument above?
A. Over the past five years, the percentage of infectious disease cases caused by schistosomiasis has remained unchanged, but the percentage of cases caused by malaria has increased substantially.
B. Trends in infectious disease data tend to persist for decades, unless there is a major breakthrough in treatment regimens.
C. Five years ago, many more people died from schistosomiasis than died from malaria.
D. Over the past five years, the percentage of infectious disease cases caused by malaria was not significantly greater than the percentage of cases caused by schistosomiasis.
E. Over the past five years, the percentage of infectious disease cases caused by diseases other than malaria and schistosomiasis did not increase substantially.
My Ques: How does A strengthen the argument?
Hi Riya,
Data:
Two most common infectious diseases: schistosomiasis and malaria
Infectious diseases have increased in the past 5 yrs
Schistosomiasis has been primarily responsible for the overall increase
Conclusion: It is likely that there were more cases of schistosomiasis than malaria five years ago
We need to strengthen the conclusion.
A. Over the past five years, the percentage of infectious disease cases caused by schistosomiasis has remained unchanged, but the percentage of cases caused by malaria has increased substantially.
According to the data, schistosomiasis has been primarily responsible for the overall increase but the % of schistosomiasis in the total cases is the same, meaning, most of the cases comprised of schistosomiasis earlier too.
Let’s consider 2 time periods 2013 and 2018
Let’s assume the following:
Total number of infectious diseases 2013 = 100
Number of schistosomiasis diseases 2013 = 70 (percentage of cases by schistosomiasis = 70%)
Number of malaria diseases 2013 = 20 (percentage of cases by malaria= 20%)
Number of other diseases 2013 = 10
Total number of infectious diseases 2018 = 150
———————————————————
Conclusion of the given argument – Therefore it is likely that there were more cases of schistosomiasis than malaria five years ago.
The above conclusion would be strengthened if
Number of schistosomiasis diseases 2018 = 105 (percentage of cases by schistosomiasis = 70% – has remained unchanged over the last 5 years)
Number of malaria diseases = 45 (percentage of cases by malaria= 30% – increased substantially from 2013)
From the above calculation based on option A,
Two most common infectious diseases: schistosomiasis and malaria
Infectious diseases have increased in the past 5 yrs
Schistosomiasis has been primarily responsible for the overall increase (an increase of 35 out of overall 50 infectious diseases)
There were more cases of schistosomiasis than malaria five years ago
Okay. But doing this analysis in just 2 mins?