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#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.
 LSATQUEEN180
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#102920
This is a "fill the gap" question type.

first identify what all three groups are saying:

g1: same toothbrush all year
g2: same toothbrush but sterilized it monthly
g3: new sterile toothbrush monthly

g3 had the least amount of plaque build up. WHY? the difference between g3 and the other two is buying a new tb and sterilizing it monthly.

C clearly explains why g3 had the least amount of plaque and that is because of the bristles on "new brushes" being strong enough to destroy plaque build up.
 Adam Tyson
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#102997
I assume that's a typo and you meant to say that answer B does that? If so, that's correct, nice work! One thing to note is that the folks in Group 3 didn't sterilize their toothbrush each month. They used a new one each month that was already sterile! The main issue, though, seems to be that sterility is less important than the stiffness of the bristles.

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