A certain viral infection is widespread among children, and about 30 percent of children infected with the virus deve...
Claudia-FrankelJune 8, 2020
Why B?
I've read the explanation for answer choice B but I am still very much confused on how a susceptibility to an infection explains the antibiotics clearing up the ear infections. Please explain.
Thanks!
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This question asks you to pick the answer choice which "most helps explain" the success of treatments with antibiotics. The question tells us that a viral infection is causing ear infections in kids. It also tells us that antibiotics have no effect on the virus, but that the ear infections have cleared up with antibiotics.
Answer (A) is incorrect because it is irrelevant. The stimulus is talking about antibiotics being used to clear up ear infections. It does not seem to be comparing different types of antibiotics.
Answer (B) is correct because it explains why the antibiotics have been successful. While the antibiotics may not be helpful against the virus, they may be helpful against one of its symptoms. This answer choice tells us that one of those symptoms is getting infected with bacteria in the ear. The antibiotics are helpful against this bacteria.
Answer (C) is also irrelevant. The whole stimulus is about children infected with the virus, so we don't need information about kids who are not infected.
Answer (D) is incorrect. While this may be true, it does not help explain why the antibiotics were successful.
Answer (E) is incorrect. This answer choice seems to strengthen the idea that the virus is causing the ear infections in those kids who are infected. But, this doesn't tell us anything about the success of treatment with the antibiotics, which is the focus of the question.
