GRE Question of the Day (February 28)

Verbal

In the 1950's sixty percent of treated cancer patients lived at least five years after detection of the disease. Now, sixty percent live at least seven years after detection. This fact demonstrates that, because of improved methods of treatment, cancer patients now live longer after they contract the disease than. cancer patients did in the 1950's.

The conclusion of the argument above depends on which of the following assumptions?

(A) In the 1950's only sixty percent of cancer patients received treatment, whereas now a substantially higher percentage does.
(B) Free medical treatment is more likely to be available now to people who have no health insurance than it was in the 1950's.
(C) Detection of cancer does not now take place, on average, significantly earlier in the progression of the disease than it did in the 1950's.
(D) Physicians now usually predict a longer life for cancer patients after detection of the disease than did physicians in the 1950's.
(E) The number of cancer patients now is approximately the same as it was in the 1950's

Correct Answer - C - (click and drag your mouse to see the answer)

Question Discussion & Explanation