Multiple choice

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

A pharmaceutical company developed a new diuretic reported to cause fewer side effects than their old diuretic, which was still being manufactured. During the first year that both were sold, the earlier medication far outsold the new one; the manufacturer thus concluded that reducing side effects was not the customers' primary consideration. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the manufacturer's conclusion?

  1. Both hospitals and patients buy diuretics from this pharmaceutical company.

  2. Many customers consider older medications a better safety risk than new ones, since more is usually known about the safety of the earlier drugs.

  3. Many customers of this pharmaceutical company also bought medications from companies who did not produce new diuretics reported to cause fewer side effects.

  4. The newer diuretic can be used by all the patients who could use the earlier diuretic.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The best answer is (2). The manufacture's conclusion was that reducing side effects was not the customers' primary consideration. Choice (2) states that customers consider older medication a better safety risk, so those customers bought the older diuretic out of safety considerations.

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