- Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:00 am
#64125
Complete Question Explanation
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (E)
This passage presents the results of a study of the relationship between salt intake and high blood
pressure. Heavy salt intake tends to increase blood pressure. Predictably, many high blood pressure
sufferers experienced a blood pressure decrease when they cut their salt intake. There were also
participants, however, who had heavy salt intake throughout the study and yet were able to somehow
maintain low blood-pressure.
The passage is followed by a Resolve question stem, so the correct answer choice will provide some
explanation of those who, contrary to normal expectations, had high salt intake throughout and
maintained low blood pressure regardless.
Answer choice (A): The study participants who create the paradox are those who had low blood
pressure despite maintaining high levels of salt intake throughout the study. This choice deals with a
different group, and does not resolve the discrepancy.
Answer choice (B): Even if there are other factors associated with high blood pressure, this does
not explain the fact that, despite a general correlation between heavy salt intake and higher blood
pressure, some participants had consistently high salt intake and consistently low blood pressure.
Answer choice (C): Just because salt reduction is not the best way to reduce high blood pressure, salt
reduction is still one approach that we would expect to be effective. We would still expect those who
eat a lot of salt generally to have higher blood pressure, so this choice fails to resolve the paradox.
Answer choice (D): Much like incorrect answer choice (A) above, this choice deals with the wrong
population. The author presents the paradoxical case of study participants who ate a lot of salt and
still maintained high blood pressure. This choice deals with the opposite: those who have low salt
intake and high blood pressure. If anything this would actually broaden the apparent discrepancy,
making the study results more puzzling, so it cannot be the correct answer choice.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. This choice describes a group who
could have low blood pressure despite high salt intake. This is a group of people who suffer from
abnormally low blood pressure, and crave a lot of salt just to keep their blood pressure levels high
enough. For such people, we might expect the otherwise paradoxical results from the study.
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (E)
This passage presents the results of a study of the relationship between salt intake and high blood
pressure. Heavy salt intake tends to increase blood pressure. Predictably, many high blood pressure
sufferers experienced a blood pressure decrease when they cut their salt intake. There were also
participants, however, who had heavy salt intake throughout the study and yet were able to somehow
maintain low blood-pressure.
The passage is followed by a Resolve question stem, so the correct answer choice will provide some
explanation of those who, contrary to normal expectations, had high salt intake throughout and
maintained low blood pressure regardless.
Answer choice (A): The study participants who create the paradox are those who had low blood
pressure despite maintaining high levels of salt intake throughout the study. This choice deals with a
different group, and does not resolve the discrepancy.
Answer choice (B): Even if there are other factors associated with high blood pressure, this does
not explain the fact that, despite a general correlation between heavy salt intake and higher blood
pressure, some participants had consistently high salt intake and consistently low blood pressure.
Answer choice (C): Just because salt reduction is not the best way to reduce high blood pressure, salt
reduction is still one approach that we would expect to be effective. We would still expect those who
eat a lot of salt generally to have higher blood pressure, so this choice fails to resolve the paradox.
Answer choice (D): Much like incorrect answer choice (A) above, this choice deals with the wrong
population. The author presents the paradoxical case of study participants who ate a lot of salt and
still maintained high blood pressure. This choice deals with the opposite: those who have low salt
intake and high blood pressure. If anything this would actually broaden the apparent discrepancy,
making the study results more puzzling, so it cannot be the correct answer choice.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. This choice describes a group who
could have low blood pressure despite high salt intake. This is a group of people who suffer from
abnormally low blood pressure, and crave a lot of salt just to keep their blood pressure levels high
enough. For such people, we might expect the otherwise paradoxical results from the study.