PSAT Reading Question 589: Answer and Explanation

Question: 589

It is reasonable to infer from the passage that a bacteriostatic medicine and a bactericidal medicine would be optimally used on patients in which of the following respective situations?

• A. Relatively healthy, relatively ill
• B. Generally unhealthy, generally healthy
• C. Internally sick, externally sick
• D. Physically ill, mentally ill

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

(A) In lines 31–34, the passage states that "bacteriostatic antibiotics are often prescribed to patients who have an intact immune system." If a person's immune system is intact, it is fair to assume that that person is "relatively healthy," as described in choice (A). Choices (B), (C), and (D) all state that bacteriostatic antibiotics are used on people in various states of poor health, which is not the case.