#11 - Wounds become infected because the break in the

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (C).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E):

This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[sarah_tucker@alumni.brown.edu]

Is C correct of D because C references why honey is better than antibiotic ointments specifically?

[Luke Haqq]

Hi Sarah!

Yes, your reasoning seems correct as to why (C) is preferable to (D).

Often in resolve the paradox questions there will answer choices that might be tempting but are ultimately incorrect that explain one aspect of the paradox but not the other. Instead of that, we need answer choices in these types of questions that reconcile both aspects of the paradox.

With this question, answer choice (D) addresses why honey could be useful in treating wounds, but it doesn't explain how or why it heals comparatively faster than the other options. Answer choice (C) encompasses this comparative aspect of the paradox.

[maedayoku]

I am still confused. Is "inhibit the growth of bacteria" the same as "bacteria killing" in the stimulus? I chose answer choice D, since I thought the reason why honey heals faster than oiniment has been accounted for by honey's additional property of "inhibiting bacteria".

[Jeff Wren]

Hi maedayoku,

You can think of "inhibits the growth of bacteria" as preventing the growth or spread of bacteria, but it doesn't mean that it kills the bacteria that is already in the honey. In other words, "inhibits the growth of bacteria" is a benefit for honey in this context, but, by itself, it doesn't explain why honey heals faster than the "bacteria killing ointment."

If you compare Answer D to Answer C, then you may notice that Answer C has the fact that honey "inhibits the growth of bacteria" but also includes another important fact about the antibiotic ointments (that they damage sensitive tissue and slow healing) which explains why the antibiotic ointment is slower at healing than honey.

Only Answer C explains both sides of the paradox, why honey helps speed up healing even though it has bacteria, and why it is even faster than antibiotic ointments, which should also speed up healing by killing the bacteria.

[maedayoku]

Hi maedayoku,

You can think of "inhibits the growth of bacteria" as preventing the growth or spread of bacteria, but it doesn't mean that it kills the bacteria that is already in the honey. In other words, "inhibits the growth of bacteria" is a benefit for honey in this context, but, by itself, it doesn't explain why honey heals faster than the "bacteria killing ointment."

If you compare Answer D to Answer C, then you may notice that Answer C also has the fact that honey "inhibits the growth of bacteria" but also includes another important fact about the antibiotic ointments (that they damage sensitive tissue and slow healing) which explains why the antibiotic ointment is slower at healing than honey.

Only Answer C explains both sides of the paradox, why honey helps speed up healing even though it has bacteria, and why it is even faster than antibiotic ointments, which should also speed up healing by killing the bacteria.

Thank you so much. It helps a lot!