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- Tue Dec 31, 2019 3:54 pm
#72936
Complete Question Explanation
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (E).
No argument is presented in this stimulus, just a series of facts, and those facts seem a little odd. Why would doctors suggest that some people would be better off taking calcium supplements, which may contain dangerous lead? This is the essence of Resolve the Paradox questions - an unusual fact pattern that requires some explanation.
This particular paradox is not all that confusing. Obviously, the resolution will be that there is some benefit for those patients taking the supplements that outweighs the risk of consuming whatever lead they may contain. Look for an answer that provides either a benefit to taking the supplements or a problem from not taking them.
Answer choice (A): This answer focuses on foods with lead in them, and tells us nothing about the relative risks and benefits of taking or not taking supplements.
Answer choice (B): Like answer A, there is nothing here to show a benefit to taking the supplements or a risk related to taking no supplements.
Answer choice (C): Still nothing about the relative risks and rewards related to taking the supplements, so still no resolution to our paradox.
Answer choice (D): At last, an attractive answer that deals with the benefits of calcium intake! But beware, this answer is a trap! It tells us that calcium in our diets is good, but does that really strengthen the claim that taking supplements, which may contain lead, is better than not taking supplements? Perhaps instead of ingesting things that help us tolerate lead, we should just avoid lead in the first place? It's okay to hold this one as a contender, but don't commit to it without giving the final answer choice a fair shake.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. Here we see why it might be better for some people to take a calcium supplement, even if it might have lead, than to not take one, because NOT taking supplements could actually make things worse by sucking calcium out of your bones and depositing stored lead in your blood. The stimulus was about some people needing supplements, and it now makes sense if those people are the ones who are getting an insufficient amount of calcium from other sources. We might have been drawn to answer D, but a careful process of sorting losers and contenders should give us the chance to read this answer that is much better. This is a great example of why you should always sort the answers before committing to one!
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (E).
No argument is presented in this stimulus, just a series of facts, and those facts seem a little odd. Why would doctors suggest that some people would be better off taking calcium supplements, which may contain dangerous lead? This is the essence of Resolve the Paradox questions - an unusual fact pattern that requires some explanation.
This particular paradox is not all that confusing. Obviously, the resolution will be that there is some benefit for those patients taking the supplements that outweighs the risk of consuming whatever lead they may contain. Look for an answer that provides either a benefit to taking the supplements or a problem from not taking them.
Answer choice (A): This answer focuses on foods with lead in them, and tells us nothing about the relative risks and benefits of taking or not taking supplements.
Answer choice (B): Like answer A, there is nothing here to show a benefit to taking the supplements or a risk related to taking no supplements.
Answer choice (C): Still nothing about the relative risks and rewards related to taking the supplements, so still no resolution to our paradox.
Answer choice (D): At last, an attractive answer that deals with the benefits of calcium intake! But beware, this answer is a trap! It tells us that calcium in our diets is good, but does that really strengthen the claim that taking supplements, which may contain lead, is better than not taking supplements? Perhaps instead of ingesting things that help us tolerate lead, we should just avoid lead in the first place? It's okay to hold this one as a contender, but don't commit to it without giving the final answer choice a fair shake.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. Here we see why it might be better for some people to take a calcium supplement, even if it might have lead, than to not take one, because NOT taking supplements could actually make things worse by sucking calcium out of your bones and depositing stored lead in your blood. The stimulus was about some people needing supplements, and it now makes sense if those people are the ones who are getting an insufficient amount of calcium from other sources. We might have been drawn to answer D, but a careful process of sorting losers and contenders should give us the chance to read this answer that is much better. This is a great example of why you should always sort the answers before committing to one!