Medical researchers developing a new antibiotic treatment in 2019 faced a significant challenge. The medication was highly effective against bacterial...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Medical researchers developing a new antibiotic treatment in 2019 faced a significant challenge. The medication was highly effective against bacterial infections, but initial trials showed it caused severe side effects in many patients. To address this problem, the research team decided to reduce the dosage by half and combine it with a complementary therapy. This modified approach not only eliminated most side effects but also proved more effective than the original high-dose treatment. The enhanced results meant patients recovered faster than anyone had anticipated. Consequently, the research team _______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
were able to treat more patients than initially planned.
decided to increase the dosage back to original levels.
focused only on patients with the most severe infections.
abandoned the complementary therapy approach.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Medical researchers developing a new antibiotic treatment in 2019 faced a significant challenge.' |
|
| 'The medication was highly effective against bacterial infections, but initial trials showed it caused severe side effects in many patients.' |
|
| 'To address this problem, the research team decided to reduce the dosage by half and combine it with a complementary therapy.' |
|
| 'This modified approach not only eliminated most side effects but also proved more effective than the original high-dose treatment.' |
|
Main Point: Medical researchers successfully solved the side effect problem of their antibiotic by reducing dosage and adding complementary therapy, creating a treatment that was both safer and more effective than the original.
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 research team achieved something remarkable - they created a treatment that was safer with fewer side effects and more effective than the original
- When medical treatments exceed expectations in multiple ways like this, researchers can typically expand their impact
- The logical consequence would be ability to treat more patients safely due to better outcomes
were able to treat more patients than initially planned.
✓ Correct
- Directly follows from the enhanced results - if the treatment is more effective with fewer side effects, they could safely treat more patients
- Matches our prethinking about expanded treatment capacity
decided to increase the dosage back to original levels.
✗ Incorrect
- Contradicts the passage which shows the reduced dosage was more effective
- Goes against the successful outcome described
focused only on patients with the most severe infections.
✗ Incorrect
- Nothing suggests limiting treatment to only severe cases
- Actually contradicts the logic - if safer and more effective, they would expand rather than restrict usage
abandoned the complementary therapy approach.
✗ Incorrect
- Directly contradicts the passage - the complementary therapy approach was successful and proved more effective