- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8917
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Mon Jun 26, 2017 2:31 pm
#36391
Complete Question Explanation
Resolve. The correct answer choice is (A)
This stimulus contains a fact set that presents a paradox, so you should have expected a Resolve
question. To do resolve the discrepancy, you must understand the contrast:
1. Rats fed high doses of saccharine get bladder cancer.
2. Mice fed high doses of saccharine don’t.
Even though it is diffi cult to predict the exact solution to most Resolve questions, it is safe to say that
the rats and mice must be different from each other in some important way (other than species).
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. This answer resolves the paradox by
offering an explanation that accounts for the differing outcomes. Since the toxic crystals seem to be
part of the process that leads to cancer in rats, their absence in mice might explain why mice do not
get bladder cancer from saccharine.
Answer choice (B): This response mentions an important difference between rats and mice, but does
not resolve the paradox. First of all, it is unclear what the effect of the different regeneration rates
would be. It is entirely possible that a faster regeneration rate would make an animal more prone to
cancer, and that would actually make the paradox worse.
Second, on a more esoteric note, some test takers who chose this response carelessly assumed that it
implied the cancer could come about because certain areas of the bladder are damaged for too long
in rats, or at least for much longer than in mice. Unfortunately, this response neither suggests that the
rat’s regeneration rates are insuffi cient nor suggests that the mice have a much greater regeneration
rate.
Answer choice (C): This attempted explanation might be consistent with the information we have
regarding rats, but we have no information on crystal formation in mice. Thus, this answer cannot
explain the differing cancer rates.
Answer choice (D): This information might explain that the silicate crystals have a limited possible
effect; however, it does not explain why mice wouldn’t experience an effect from the crystals, similar
to rats.
Answer choice (E): This answer points out a difference between rats and mice, and it suggests that
certain sweeteners have different effects on the two animals. However, you are trying to explain why
the high doses of saccharin have one effect in rats and a different effect in mice. This answer does
nothing to help explain that difference because it does not mention saccharin, and nothing can be
inferred form the actions of the other sweeteners.
Resolve. The correct answer choice is (A)
This stimulus contains a fact set that presents a paradox, so you should have expected a Resolve
question. To do resolve the discrepancy, you must understand the contrast:
1. Rats fed high doses of saccharine get bladder cancer. 2. Mice fed high doses of saccharine don’t.Even though it is diffi cult to predict the exact solution to most Resolve questions, it is safe to say that
the rats and mice must be different from each other in some important way (other than species).
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. This answer resolves the paradox by
offering an explanation that accounts for the differing outcomes. Since the toxic crystals seem to be
part of the process that leads to cancer in rats, their absence in mice might explain why mice do not
get bladder cancer from saccharine.
Answer choice (B): This response mentions an important difference between rats and mice, but does
not resolve the paradox. First of all, it is unclear what the effect of the different regeneration rates
would be. It is entirely possible that a faster regeneration rate would make an animal more prone to
cancer, and that would actually make the paradox worse.
Second, on a more esoteric note, some test takers who chose this response carelessly assumed that it
implied the cancer could come about because certain areas of the bladder are damaged for too long
in rats, or at least for much longer than in mice. Unfortunately, this response neither suggests that the
rat’s regeneration rates are insuffi cient nor suggests that the mice have a much greater regeneration
rate.
Answer choice (C): This attempted explanation might be consistent with the information we have
regarding rats, but we have no information on crystal formation in mice. Thus, this answer cannot
explain the differing cancer rates.
Answer choice (D): This information might explain that the silicate crystals have a limited possible
effect; however, it does not explain why mice wouldn’t experience an effect from the crystals, similar
to rats.
Answer choice (E): This answer points out a difference between rats and mice, and it suggests that
certain sweeteners have different effects on the two animals. However, you are trying to explain why
the high doses of saccharin have one effect in rats and a different effect in mice. This answer does
nothing to help explain that difference because it does not mention saccharin, and nothing can be
inferred form the actions of the other sweeteners.