Characteristics of Five Recently Approved Diabetes MedicationsMedicationBlood Sugar Reduction (%)Side Effect Rate (%)Trial Duration (months)Cost per M...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Characteristics of Five Recently Approved Diabetes Medications
| Medication | Blood Sugar Reduction (%) | Side Effect Rate (%) | Trial Duration (months) | Cost per Month ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glucomin-X | 24 | 12 | 18 | 340 |
| Diabecon-7 | 28 | 8 | 24 | 285 |
| MetaReg Plus | 31 | 18 | 12 | 420 |
| SugarGuard | 22 | 23 | 36 | 195 |
| PancreAid | 26 | 14 | 15 | 310 |
Diabetes treatments classified as 'highly effective' must demonstrate a minimum 20% reduction in blood sugar levels while maintaining side effect rates under 15%, whereas 'moderately effective' treatments require the same minimum 20% blood sugar reduction but exhibit side effect rates of 15% or above. Research published by Dr. Maria Santos and her team asserts that among these five medications, three qualify as highly effective while two fall into the moderately effective category.
Which option most accurately identifies table data that validate Dr. Santos' categorization?
Every medication demonstrates blood sugar reduction exceeding \(20\%\), with exclusively MetaReg Plus and SugarGuard showing side effect rates at or above \(15\%\).
MetaReg Plus exhibits the maximum blood sugar reduction of \(31\%\), while every medication underwent testing for no less than 12 months.
SugarGuard underwent 36 months of testing, with side effect rates spanning from \(8\%\) to \(23\%\) among all medications.
Every medication carries a monthly cost below $500, while all medications other than Diabecon-7 exhibit side effect rates exceeding \(15\%\).
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Characteristics of Five Recently Approved Diabetes Medications: [TABLE DATA]" |
|
| "Diabetes treatments classified as 'highly effective' must demonstrate a minimum 20% reduction in blood sugar levels while maintaining side effect rates under 15%" |
|
| "whereas 'moderately effective' treatments require the same minimum 20% blood sugar reduction but exhibit side effect rates of 15% or above" |
|
| "Research published by Dr. Maria Santos and her team asserts that among these five medications, three qualify as highly effective while two fall into the moderately effective category." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map: [DATA TABLE: 5 medications with 4 metrics each] → [CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM] Highly Effective: \(\geq\mathrm{20\%}\) reduction + \(\lt\mathrm{15\%}\) side effects, Moderately Effective: \(\geq\mathrm{20\%}\) reduction + \(\geq\mathrm{15\%}\) side effects → [DR. SANTOS' CLAIM: 3 highly effective, 2 moderately effective]
Main Point: Dr. Santos categorized five new diabetes medications into highly effective (3 medications) and moderately effective (2 medications) groups based on specific blood sugar reduction and side effect criteria.
Argument Flow: The passage presents data on five medications, establishes clear classification criteria for effectiveness levels, then states Dr. Santos' specific categorization that divides the medications 3-to-2 between the categories.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should tell us: First, we need to apply the criteria to each medication:
- All medications must have \(\geq\mathrm{20\%}\) blood sugar reduction (required for both categories)
- Highly effective: \(\lt\mathrm{15\%}\) side effects
- Moderately effective: \(\geq\mathrm{15\%}\) side effects
- Looking at the data, if Dr. Santos is correct about 3 highly effective and 2 moderately effective, then exactly 2 medications should have side effect rates of 15% or above, while the other 3 should have rates below 15%
- So the right answer should identify that all medications meet the minimum blood sugar reduction requirement, and specifically name which medications have the higher side effect rates that put them in the moderately effective category
Every medication demonstrates blood sugar reduction exceeding \(20\%\), with exclusively MetaReg Plus and SugarGuard showing side effect rates at or above \(15\%\).
- Confirms all medications exceed 20% blood sugar reduction (meeting basic requirement)
- Identifies exactly MetaReg Plus (18% side effects) and SugarGuard (23% side effects) as having rates ≥15%
- This creates the perfect 3-to-2 split Dr. Santos claimed: 3 highly effective, 2 moderately effective
MetaReg Plus exhibits the maximum blood sugar reduction of \(31\%\), while every medication underwent testing for no less than 12 months.
- States MetaReg Plus has maximum reduction (true but irrelevant)
- Mentions minimum 12-month testing (true but doesn't validate the categorization)
- Provides no information about side effect rates, which is crucial for the classification system
SugarGuard underwent 36 months of testing, with side effect rates spanning from \(8\%\) to \(23\%\) among all medications.
- Notes SugarGuard's 36-month trial duration (irrelevant to effectiveness classification)
- States side effect range 8-23% (true but doesn't specify which medications)
- Fails to identify which specific medications fall into each effectiveness category
Every medication carries a monthly cost below $500, while all medications other than Diabecon-7 exhibit side effect rates exceeding \(15\%\).
- Focuses on cost information (completely irrelevant to effectiveness classification)
- Incorrectly states "all medications other than Diabecon-7 exhibit side effect rates exceeding 15%"
- This is factually wrong: Glucomin-X (12%) and PancreAid (14%) both have rates below 15%