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- Fri Apr 05, 2019 6:13 pm
#63918
Complete Question Explanation
Weaken. The correct answer choice is (A)
Because melanoma is caused by overexposure to certain wavelengths of strong sunlight, and
adequate sunblock prevents sunburn, doctors recommend the use of sunblock (any preparation which
prevents sunburn even where there is significant exposure to bright sunlight). You might have noticed
the inconsistency between the two causal relationships: melanoma and sunburn are two different
phenomena, but the suggested preventative approach is the same for both. Since the stimulus is
followed by a Weaken question, we might look for the answer that points out this distinction.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. If it is possible that the wavelengths of
sunlight that lead to sunburn are different from those that lead to melanoma, then using the same
approach for the prevention of both might not be effective.
Answer choice (B): The doctors never suggested that sunblock is entirely safe to use: they only urged
everyone to use it in order to decrease their risk of melanoma, a virulent form of skin cancer. As long
as the benefits of using sunblock outweigh the costs (such as the risk of developing allergic reactions
to the chemicals found in it), the doctors’ recommendation still holds.
Answer choice (C): Doctors never implied that it only takes a single layer of sunblock to protect
against sunburn: they recommended that everyone wear adequate sunblock, defined as “any
preparation that prevents sunburn” (whatever it takes). The point that many types of sunblock need
repeated applications in order to remain effective does not challenge this recommendation; it merely
clarifies its meaning.
Answer choice (D): The recommendation that people wear adequate sunblock was not based on the
presumption that overexposure to sunlight is the only possible cause of melanoma. What if toxins
can also cause melanoma? Doctors never suggested that the use of sunblock would entirely eliminate
the risk of developing the skin cancer—only that it would prevent one particular cause of that cancer.
Answer choice (E): Just because melanoma, unlike sunburn, takes years to develop does not mean
we should suddenly stop using sunblock. In fact, if repeated exposure to sun were shown to cause
both sunburn and, eventually, melanoma, perhaps the use of sunblock is justified. This answer choice
does not refute the doctors’ recommendation and is therefore incorrect.
Weaken. The correct answer choice is (A)
Because melanoma is caused by overexposure to certain wavelengths of strong sunlight, and
adequate sunblock prevents sunburn, doctors recommend the use of sunblock (any preparation which
prevents sunburn even where there is significant exposure to bright sunlight). You might have noticed
the inconsistency between the two causal relationships: melanoma and sunburn are two different
phenomena, but the suggested preventative approach is the same for both. Since the stimulus is
followed by a Weaken question, we might look for the answer that points out this distinction.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. If it is possible that the wavelengths of
sunlight that lead to sunburn are different from those that lead to melanoma, then using the same
approach for the prevention of both might not be effective.
Answer choice (B): The doctors never suggested that sunblock is entirely safe to use: they only urged
everyone to use it in order to decrease their risk of melanoma, a virulent form of skin cancer. As long
as the benefits of using sunblock outweigh the costs (such as the risk of developing allergic reactions
to the chemicals found in it), the doctors’ recommendation still holds.
Answer choice (C): Doctors never implied that it only takes a single layer of sunblock to protect
against sunburn: they recommended that everyone wear adequate sunblock, defined as “any
preparation that prevents sunburn” (whatever it takes). The point that many types of sunblock need
repeated applications in order to remain effective does not challenge this recommendation; it merely
clarifies its meaning.
Answer choice (D): The recommendation that people wear adequate sunblock was not based on the
presumption that overexposure to sunlight is the only possible cause of melanoma. What if toxins
can also cause melanoma? Doctors never suggested that the use of sunblock would entirely eliminate
the risk of developing the skin cancer—only that it would prevent one particular cause of that cancer.
Answer choice (E): Just because melanoma, unlike sunburn, takes years to develop does not mean
we should suddenly stop using sunblock. In fact, if repeated exposure to sun were shown to cause
both sunburn and, eventually, melanoma, perhaps the use of sunblock is justified. This answer choice
does not refute the doctors’ recommendation and is therefore incorrect.