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- Fri May 13, 2016 9:53 am
#24493
Complete Question Explanation
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (B)
This stimulus provides the results of a study on plaque buildup, wherein the sterilization of old toothbrushes appears to have made no difference in the amount of plaque buildup. Using new, sterilized toothbrushes, however, reduced the buildup of plaque.
The paradox is this: why would a new toothbrush fight plaque more effectively than a sterilized toothbrush? The correct answer choice will provide an additional benefit associated with new toothbrushes, or perhaps a limiting or detrimental factor associated with using old toothbrushes.
Answer choice (A): This choice would explain different results from the first two groups—one of which used the same toothbrush without sterilization, and the other of which used sterilization. Since this choice does not distinguish between the use of new and old toothbrushes, it does not resolve the paradox in the stimulus.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice, providing the above prephrased additional new toothbrush benefit: new bristles fight plaque better than old bristles—this explains why sterilization of old toothbrushes is not as effective as new toothbrushes.
Answer choice (C): Because it provides no new distinction between the groups that got different results, this choice cannot resolve the paradox, and thus must be incorrect.
Answer choice (D): Since the study only dealt with plaque buildup during the study, the relevance is questionable to begin with. If anything, this choice expands the paradox, since it would seem to put the third group, who got the best results, at a relative disadvantage.
Answer choice (E): This choice might provide some strength to the legitimacy of the study, but it fails to resolve the apparent discrepancy.
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (B)
This stimulus provides the results of a study on plaque buildup, wherein the sterilization of old toothbrushes appears to have made no difference in the amount of plaque buildup. Using new, sterilized toothbrushes, however, reduced the buildup of plaque.
The paradox is this: why would a new toothbrush fight plaque more effectively than a sterilized toothbrush? The correct answer choice will provide an additional benefit associated with new toothbrushes, or perhaps a limiting or detrimental factor associated with using old toothbrushes.
Answer choice (A): This choice would explain different results from the first two groups—one of which used the same toothbrush without sterilization, and the other of which used sterilization. Since this choice does not distinguish between the use of new and old toothbrushes, it does not resolve the paradox in the stimulus.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice, providing the above prephrased additional new toothbrush benefit: new bristles fight plaque better than old bristles—this explains why sterilization of old toothbrushes is not as effective as new toothbrushes.
Answer choice (C): Because it provides no new distinction between the groups that got different results, this choice cannot resolve the paradox, and thus must be incorrect.
Answer choice (D): Since the study only dealt with plaque buildup during the study, the relevance is questionable to begin with. If anything, this choice expands the paradox, since it would seem to put the third group, who got the best results, at a relative disadvantage.
Answer choice (E): This choice might provide some strength to the legitimacy of the study, but it fails to resolve the apparent discrepancy.