A new medication for migraine seems

Answer choices

1. A

   Too Strong: actually is effective8% picked this

   The new medication actually is effective when taken by patients with

   The author has only said that it seems effective, which means that she's persuaded that it probably works but isn't sure yet. Since the author isn't actually suggesting that anyone take this medication, she doesn't need to believe that it's effective. She's only trying to prove that the worry about taking it is unfounded.

   8%
2. B

   Correct81% picked this

   No migraine sufferers with heart disease will take the new medication except under

   Why this is right

   The author is saying, "There's nothing to worry about. As long as we do X, we're chill." So he's assuming that we will do X. Since our author said, "These worries are unfounded. As long as we have them take this new med under careful medical supervision, we're chill." So he's assuming that the migraine patients who have heart disease will always be taking this med under careful medical supervision. If we negated this answer, we would be saying "some people who have migraines and heart disease are going to take this new medication without careful medical supervision". That would be an objection, because it would show that our worries are well-founded that this new medication could lead to harm.

   Skill tested: Necessary Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   81%
3. C

   Too Strong: most4% picked this

   Most migraine sufferers who have taken the new medication in trials also

   99% of the time when we see "most" in a Necessary Assumption answer, that answer is wrong. When you negate most, you go from thinking something occurs "at least 51% of the time" to thinking something occurs "at most 49% of the time". Big whoop. Does it make any difference whether 51% or 49% of the migraine sufferers in the new drug's clinical trial also had heart disease? Of course not. As long as there were enough migraine sufferers with heart disease in this trial that we can gauge the effect of the medication on heart disease, then that was plenty. It doesn't matter if it's only 10% of the people in the drug trial.

   4%
4. D

   Out of Scope: other side effects7% picked this

   The new medication has various other side effects, but none as serious as that of

   The conclusion is saying "the concern about those side effects is unfounded", referring to the exacerbation of heart disease. Since the argument is only about those side effects, the author doesn't need to assume anything about the presence or relative severity of other side effects.

   7%
5. E

   Too Strong: will displace all1% picked this

   The new medication will displace all migraine medications currently

   The author certainly hasn't committed herself to this incredibly extreme claim that this new medication will corner the entire market, with every other migraine medication currently available being supplanted.

   1%