The use of growth-promoting antibiotics in hog farming can weaken their effectiveness in treating humans because such use can sp

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问题 The use of growth-promoting antibiotics in hog farming can weaken their effectiveness in treating humans because such use can spread resistance to those antibiotics among microorganisms. But now the Smee Company, one of the largest pork marketers, may stop buying pork raised on feed containing these antibiotics. Smee has 60 percent of the pork market, and farmers who sell to Smee would certainly stop using antibiotics in order to avoid jeopardizing their sales. So if Smee makes this change, it will probably significantly slow the decline in antibiotics’ effectiveness for humans.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?

选项 A、Other major pork marketers will probably stop buying pork raised on feed containing growth-promoting antibiotics if Smee no longer buys such pork.
B、The decline in hog growth due to discontinuation of antibiotics can be offset by improved hygiene.
C、Authorities are promoting the use of antibiotics to which microorganisms have not yet developed resistance.
D、A phaseout of use of antibiotics for hogs in one country reduced usage by over 50 percent over five years.
E、If Smee stops buying pork raised with antibiotics, the firm’s costs will probably increase.

答案A

解析 Argument Evaluation
Situation Using growth-promoting antibiotics in hog farming can produce widespread resistance to antibiotics among microorganisms, thereby making the antibiotics less effective in treating humans. The Smee Company, a pork marketer with 60 percent of the pork market, may stop buying pork raised on feed containing these antibiotics.
Reasoning What additional evidence would most help to support the conclusion that if Smee makes the change, it will significantly slow the decline in antibiotics’ effectiveness for humans? We are already informed that if Smee makes the change, it will eliminate the use of antibiotics in hog feed by farmers supplying at least 60 percent of the pork market. The argument would be strengthened by evidence that Smee’s decision would indirectly cause use of the antibiotics to stop more broadly, for example in hog farms supplying significantly more than 60 percent of the total amount of pork marketed.
A Correct. This suggests that if Smee makes the change, hog farmers supplying other major pork marketers will also have to stop using antibiotics in hog feed, making the change more widespread and thus probably more effective.
B Even if the decline in hog growth from discontinuing the antibiotics cannot be offset, many hog farmers will still have to stop using the antibiotics as a result of Smee’s decision. On the other hand, even if the decline can be offset with improved hygiene, that change might be too expensive or difficult to be worth its benefits for most hog farmers.
C Whatever new antibiotics authorities are promoting, microorganisms may soon develop resistance to them as well. Smee may or may not refuse to buy pork raised on feed containing these new antibiotics.
D This is evidence that Smee’s decision may significantly reduce antibiotic use in hogs, but it provides no evidence of how this reduction may affect antibiotics’effectiveness for humans.
E If anything, this provides reason to suspect that Smee will not stick with the change for long after the costs increase, so it weakens rather than strengthens the argument that the change will significantly slow the decline in antibiotics’ effectiveness.
The correct answer is A.
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本试题收录于: GMAT VERBAL题库GMAT分类
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