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- Sat May 20, 2017 8:24 am
#35160
Complete Question Explanation
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (C)
In this first question of the section, the dentist offers advice that seems to be self-contradictory. On
one hand, the dentist says that people should brush their teeth after every meal. The reason they
should do this is that sugars left behind on teeth after a meal can help acid-producing bacteria to
grow. This bacteria, in turn, can lead to cavities by dissolving minerals in tooth enamel. On the other
hand, the dentist recommends that when it is not practical to brush their teeth after a meal people
should chew gum to prevent cavities, even gum that contains sugar.
This advice is confusing, because the dentist recommends—in some instances—chewing gum
containing sugar when it is the presence of sugar that is the problem in the first place. It should come
as no surprise that this is a Resolve the Paradox question. Our prephrase is that the correct answer
choice will describe what causes the dentist to recommend chewing gum to prevent the development
of cavities, even if the gum contains sugar.
Answer choice (A): While this answer choice indicates that the lower sugar content in gum might
be the lesser of two evils, it does not help us understand why it is that chewing gum after a meal can
help prevent cavities.
Answer choice (B): Here, the answer choice tells us why it is important to prevent the development
of tooth decay. However, it does not even mention chewing gum, let alone tell us why the dentist
recommends chewing gum after a meal.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice, because it describes how chewing gum,
despite its sugar content, can help prevent the formation of cavities. The problem with the sugar left
in the mouth after a meal is that its presence facilitates the development of bacteria, which in turn
produces acid that dissolves enamel. The dentist recommends chewing gum after a meal because the
act of chewing produces saliva that reduces acidity in the mouth.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice does not explain the dentist’s recommendation. Not only
does it not mention chewing gum, it also indicates that people have a 24 hour window in which to
brush their teeth and avoid the production of tooth-damaging bacteria.
Answer choice (E): In this case, the answer choice does describe a benefit of chewing gum.
However, it tells us about the effect of chewing gum on the “overall health of the oral tract,” and does
not help us understand why it’s important to brush or chew gum after a meal, or why it’s beneficial to
chew gum after a meal even if the gum contains sugar.
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (C)
In this first question of the section, the dentist offers advice that seems to be self-contradictory. On
one hand, the dentist says that people should brush their teeth after every meal. The reason they
should do this is that sugars left behind on teeth after a meal can help acid-producing bacteria to
grow. This bacteria, in turn, can lead to cavities by dissolving minerals in tooth enamel. On the other
hand, the dentist recommends that when it is not practical to brush their teeth after a meal people
should chew gum to prevent cavities, even gum that contains sugar.
This advice is confusing, because the dentist recommends—in some instances—chewing gum
containing sugar when it is the presence of sugar that is the problem in the first place. It should come
as no surprise that this is a Resolve the Paradox question. Our prephrase is that the correct answer
choice will describe what causes the dentist to recommend chewing gum to prevent the development
of cavities, even if the gum contains sugar.
Answer choice (A): While this answer choice indicates that the lower sugar content in gum might
be the lesser of two evils, it does not help us understand why it is that chewing gum after a meal can
help prevent cavities.
Answer choice (B): Here, the answer choice tells us why it is important to prevent the development
of tooth decay. However, it does not even mention chewing gum, let alone tell us why the dentist
recommends chewing gum after a meal.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice, because it describes how chewing gum,
despite its sugar content, can help prevent the formation of cavities. The problem with the sugar left
in the mouth after a meal is that its presence facilitates the development of bacteria, which in turn
produces acid that dissolves enamel. The dentist recommends chewing gum after a meal because the
act of chewing produces saliva that reduces acidity in the mouth.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice does not explain the dentist’s recommendation. Not only
does it not mention chewing gum, it also indicates that people have a 24 hour window in which to
brush their teeth and avoid the production of tooth-damaging bacteria.
Answer choice (E): In this case, the answer choice does describe a benefit of chewing gum.
However, it tells us about the effect of chewing gum on the “overall health of the oral tract,” and does
not help us understand why it’s important to brush or chew gum after a meal, or why it’s beneficial to
chew gum after a meal even if the gum contains sugar.