Black Americans are, on the whole, about twice as likely as White Americans to develop high blood pressure. This likelihood also holds for westernized Black Africans when compared to White Africans.
Researchers have hypothesized that this predisposition in westernized Blacks may reflect an interaction between western high-salt diets and genes that adapted to an environmental scarcity of salt.

Which of the following statements about present-day, westernized Black Africans, if true, would most tend to confirm the researchers’ hypothesis?

(A) The blood pressures of those descended from peoples situated throughout their history in Senegal and Gambia, where salt was always available, are low.
(B) The unusually high salt consumption in certain areas of Africa represents a serious health problem.
(C) Because of their blood pressure levels, most White Africans have markedly decreased their salt consumption.
(D) Blood pressures are low among the Yoruba, who, throughout their history, have been situated far inland from sources of sea salt and far south of Saharan salt mines.
(E) No significant differences in salt metabolism have been found between those people who have had salt available throughout their history and those who have not.


Would appreciate an explanation for your choice.

concur with B. Nice explanation ob.
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Best Regards,

Paul

Here is the answer for your question.

(B) does not talk about blood pressure in particular.

http://www.gmatclub.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=3032

Hi mba:

can you please tell the group abt. the source from where this is taken? I find this CR difficult (infact it was difficult to know what exaclty the author was trying to say!)

Thanks
Vithal

The question says
'Which of the following statements about present-day, westernized Black Africans, if true, would ...'
whereas option A talks about Senegal and Zambia.

A does seem to be the correct answer, if one ignores the part of the question that I have reproduced above.

./abisurd

A is the answer.

A clearly states that Senegal/gambia 's scarcity of salt made inhabitant's genes adapt to it. "interaction between western high-salt diets and genes that adapted to an environmental scarcity of salt" led to high blood pressure levels in westernized black.

refer: http://www.gmatclub.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... zed+blacks

D does speak about the proximity to a salt source but DOES NOT relate that to a high salt diet. Remember, living next to a salt source DOES NOT necessarily mean a high salt diet. That would be an unwarranted assumption. Hence, D misses the link between proximity to salt source vis-a-vis high salt diet
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Best Regards,

Paul

You got me here mba As you said in original title, I also had a bad day with this CR. Just wanted to make sure I explain it right this time. Please ignore my previous explanation since this one is much better. Here it comes

D) If the Yoruba lived far away from salt sources, did their genes adapt to an environment of salt scarcity? Yes. Yet, the conclusion says that their blood pressure is low. This directly contradicts the argument. As I said earlier:
Genes adapted to an environment of salt scarcity = high blood pressure

A) If people from Senegal and Gambia lived near salt sources, did their genes adapt to an environment of salt scarcity? No. This directly strengthens the argument.

Genes not adapted to an environment of salt scarcity = low blood pressure

Is it better?
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Best Regards,

Paul

As I said many times, try to understand what the question is asking. Try to find why the OA is better than any other answer and how all other answers can be refuted. Don't worry too much for this CR. It is quite difficult. You are allowed to miss a few but if you do miss it, try to understand why. If you are not too sure, post it here
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Best Regards,

Paul

Great discussion guys! This one is tough.

I just wanted to add smth. The author of the question, I believe, gives us a subtle hint as to the answer...

Note the question:

Which of the following statements about present-day, westernized Black Africans...

Only A says:

The blood pressures of those descended from peoples situated throughout their history in Senegal and Gambia...

This suggests heritage and makes a link with the present-day westernized blacks

While D says:

Blood pressures are low among the Yoruba, who, throughout their history...

The above suggests a tribe still living somewhere far inland in Africa... not present-day westernized blacks[/b]
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Searching for an answer...