Pasteurization of milk is a process by which milk is heated to a certain temperature and then rapidly cooled, killing pathogens and increasing the shelf life of milk. Recently pasteurization has come under fire because it has been found that during pasteurization many helpful digestive enzymes are destroyed, and many dangerous pathogens are not, including the MAP bacterial strain, which is linked to Crohn’s disease. Because of this, some people have started drinking ‘raw milk’--milk that isn’t pasteurized or otherwise processed. Proponents of pasteurization point out that that pasteurization is still necessary to reduce bacterial contamination, and that heating milk at home also kills beneficial digestive enzymes.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the raw milk drinkers’ argument?

a)Most pathogenic contamination of milk happens during processing and is not associated with the milk itself.
b)More people reported bacterial illness after drinking pasteurized milk this year than did last year.
c)The digestive enzymes in raw milk have been found to stimulate the growth of biologically beneficial bacteria in the small intestine.
d)Fewer people reported bacterial illness after drinking raw milk this year than in previous years.
e)Because of advances in technology, in five years raw milk will be cheaper to produce than pasteurized milk.

Why the answer is A? Again, can someone explain how to effectively solve Strengthening questions please?
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Best Regards,
E.

MGMAT 1 --> 530
MGMAT 2--> 640
MGMAT 3 ---> 610

The conclusion is that Raw milk drinkers are switching to raw milk because pasteuriation kills helpful bacteria and does not kill harmful pathogens. The only option that strengthens the conclusion is A which states that the pathogens are a result of pasteurization and not present in the milk itself. So therefore Raw Milk, even if it does not have helpful bacteria because of heating the milk, is atleast free of pathogens and hence a better option.

Answer is therefore A
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"Nowadays, people know the price of everything, and the value of nothing." Oscar Wilde

Thanks everyone.
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Best Regards,
E.

MGMAT 1 --> 530
MGMAT 2--> 640
MGMAT 3 ---> 610

The answer is A.
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