Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage/information and answer the question that follows.

The cost of over-the-counter antibiotic drugs is decreasing by the rate of 5 percent per year, and the cost of cancer drugs is declining at the rate of 30 percent per year. It can be concluded that if these rates of cost decline remain constant for a period of three years, at the end of that time the cost of the cancer drugs will have declined by a greater amount than the cost of an over–the-counter antibiotic.

Accurate information about which of the following would be most useful in evaluating the correctness of the conclusion above?

  1. The quantities of over–the-counter antibiotic drugs and the cancer drugs projected to be purchased during the next three years

  2. The actual prices charged for the over–the-counter antibiotic drugs and the cancer drugs

  3. The relative effectiveness of over–the-counter antibiotic drugs and the cancer drugs

  4. The average dose of counter antibiotic drugs and the cancer drugs needed per patient daily

  5. The exact quantum of fall in the prices of the two types
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The argument points out that rate of decline is more for cancer drugs than for over-the-counter antibiotics. But to find out the total decline, we would need the original price of both types of drugs, i.e. the claim needs the price before it can be verified or disapproved.

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