Logical Reasoning

PT5 · S1 · Q9 It is not known whether bovine spongiform

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It is not known whether bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a disease of cattle invariably deadly to them, can be transmitted directly from one infected animal to another at all stages of the infection.

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence gap.

9.

Which one of the following best completes the argument?

  1. Correct

    Removing from the herd and

    Why this is right

    This matches our prephrase. The point of the paragraph is that any cow could have the disease and, therefore, transmit it before ever showing symptoms. This is actually similar to what was happening during COVID. We would expect the correct answer to follow up on this idea and connect the inability to detect disease by saying something like, "You can't get rid of BSE by only isolating/treating cows who show symptoms because they could have had and been spreading the disease before that ever happens."

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

    73% picked this

  2. Developing a drug that kills

    Opposite

    This plan could actually work. By saying all cattle that might have the disease, they include cows that both show and don't show symptoms.

    5% picked this

  3. Destroying all cattle in areas

    Opposite

    This could still work. If there is a region that was infected, any cattle in that region might have it whether they show symptoms or not and would be destroyed. There is no reason to think that the disease would occur in regions where BSE is not known to have spread so you could possibly destroy the disease this way.

    6% picked this

  4. Developing a vaccine that confers

    Opposite

    This could work. The vaccine would be distributed to all cows, whether they show symptoms or not. By destroying any cow that could be carrying the disease and vaccinating all of the others, the disease could be eradicated.

    2% picked this

  5. Developing a diagnostic test that

    Opposite

    This could work. If there is a test that can detect BSE whether or not cows show disease and you destroy the ones that are infected, you could eradicate the disease.

    14% picked this

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