Passage #2 Science Mini-Passage Drill (Workbook)

[Mark83]

Hi, I was rather frustrated with this question because the line indicators lead you to the junction between two paragraphs, which makes it confusing.

The question says "Which of the following, if true, would most seriously challenge the hypothesis mentioned in lines 33-35?"

I'm not sure based on these directions what hypothesis is being referred to. All lines 33-35 says is:

"Similar studies have replicated these findings using experimental rodent models.
Why antitumor cells fail to eliminate the tumor represents a major paradox of tumor immunology."

That doesn't seem like a hypothesis. The only hypothesis in the area is in line 37 where it says: "Some scientists hypothesize that tumor cells are able to escape Tcell surveillance."

Is that the hypothesis, and if so, how does answer choice (A) "Many tumors are caused by viruses that can also disrupt the normal function of tcells" challenge that?

Thanks.

[Jonathan Evans]

Hi, Mark,

I'm sorry to report you have actually found a typo in our book. It has been corrected in the latest edition, but that's not much help to you! The hypothesis in question is actually in lines 43-45.

• "This lytic defect is probably an acquired characteristic exclusive to T-cells residing in the tumor microenvironment"

The question task is to hurt or weaken this hypothesis. The hypothesis is that this defect is exclusive to T-cells in the tumor. We have to find evidence that the defect might not be exclusive to T-cells in the tumor.

A) This is the credited response. If the tumors are caused by a virus that also induces the defect, then we would have evidence that the defect is not exclusive to T-cells in tumors, thus weakening the claim.

B) This does not address whether or not the defect is exclusive to the tumor environment. It goes off on a tangent about other, unrelated problems.

C) Well, maybe they do mimic healthy cells, but we still don't have any evidence about whether the lytic defect is exclusive to the tumors.

D) This is irrelevant and doesn't address the defect.

E) While this suggests that there could be other lytic defects induced by other pathogens, this does not address whether this particular lytic defect is exclusive to the tumor environment.

I hope this helps, and again, I am very sorry for the trouble this typo has caused you.

[Mark83]

Hi, Mark,

I'm sorry to report you have actually found a typo in our book. It has been corrected in the latest edition, but that's not much help to you! The hypothesis in question is actually in lines 43-45.

• "This lytic defect is probably an acquired characteristic exclusive to T-cells residing in the tumor microenvironment"

The question task is to hurt or weaken this hypothesis. The hypothesis is that this defect is exclusive to T-cells in the tumor. We have to find evidence that the defect might not be exclusive to T-cells in the tumor.

A) This is the credited response. If the tumors are caused by a virus that also induces the defect, then we would have evidence that the defect is not exclusive to T-cells in tumors, thus weakening the claim.

B) This does not address whether or not the defect is exclusive to the tumor environment. It goes off on a tangent about other, unrelated problems.

C) Well, maybe they do mimic healthy cells, but we still don't have any evidence about whether the lytic defect is exclusive to the tumors.

D) This is irrelevant and doesn't address the defect.

E) While this suggests that there could be other lytic defects induced by other pathogens, this does not address whether this particular lytic defect is exclusive to the tumor environment.

I hope this helps, and again, I am very sorry for the trouble this typo has caused you.

Thank you much. I was borderline pulling my hair out trying to figure out why I was missing the answer. Now it makes sense.