Researchers studying the spread of the Black Plague in

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Researchers studying the spread of the Black Plague in [#permalink]

22 Apr 2012, 10:44

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Researchers studying the spread of the Black Plague in sixteenth-century England claim that certain people survived the epidemic because they carried a genetic mutation, known as Delta-32, that is known to prevent the bacteria that causes the Plague from overtaking the immune system. To support this hypothesis, the researchers tested the direct descendants of the residents of an English town where an unusually large proportion of people survived the Plague. More than half of these descendants tested positive for the mutation Delta-32, a figure nearly three times higher than that found in other locations.

The researchers' hypothesis is based on which of the following assumptions?

A) Delta-32 does not prevent a carrier from contracting any disease other than the Plague.

B) The Plague is not similar to other diseases caused by bacteria.

C) Delta-32 did not exist in its current form until the sixteenth century.

D) No one who tested positive for Delta-32 has ever contracted a disease caused by bacteria.

E) The Plague does not cause genetic mutations such as Delta-32.

Please explain your choice.

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Re: Plague [#permalink]

22 Apr 2012, 22:56

IMO Answer is C.

What is OA ?

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Re: Plague [#permalink]

22 Apr 2012, 23:47

should be E,
its cause effect reasoning.

OA??
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Re: Plague [#permalink]

25 Apr 2012, 04:04

The OA for this one is E.

Here is a more detail discussion.
i-think-we-can-have-great-discussions-about-this-one-38875.html?fl=similar

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Re: Plague [#permalink]

25 Apr 2012, 16:04

Fun question!

One good way to attack the question is by negating the assumption. If we do so with (E) we get:

Negated Answer Choice: The Plague causes genetic mutations such as Delta-32.

If the Plague indeed caused Delta-32 to occur, then the researches hypothesis totally falls apart: Delta-32 did not protect against the plague.

Answer choice (C) says that Delta-32 came into being around the 16th century, about the time of the Plague. Therefore, it could have conceivably conferred immunity on those who carried the gene.

Hope that helps

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Re: Plague [#permalink]

25 Apr 2012, 18:56

IMO answer is E. None of the other choices would be a assumption that supports the conclusion

Re: Plague [#permalink] 25 Apr 2012, 18:56

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Researchers studying the spread of the Black Plague in

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