PowerScore Complete Question Explanation
Strengthen. The correct answer choice is (A)
In this stimulus, the scientist presents a hypothesis about the role played in bacteria by phenazines, which are antibiotic molecules. These molecules are produced by some colonies of bacteria to fend off other bacteria. But the scientist thinks that the phenazines may also act like molecular pipelines, allowing interior bacteria access to nutrients that are outside of and surrounding the colony.
Although the scientist may be right about this additional role played by phenazines, the argument does not contain any evidence supporting the hypothesis other than the presence of these essential nutrients in the environment surrounding the colony. This is a Strengthen question. Our prephrase is that the correct answer choice will provide an additional piece of evidence supporting the hypothesis. There are innumerable ways in which LSAC could support this conclusion, and it is not worth your time to try to prephrase precisely how the answer choice will do it. Just keep in mind that the correct answer will support the idea that these nutrients are passed from the outside of the colony to the interior by phenazines.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice, because it tells us that when phenazines are not present there is less need to provide interior bacteria access to exterior nutrients. The flip side of this answer choice is that when phenazines are present there is a greater need to provide such access. This is a fairly anemic strengthen answer choice. However, it makes it at least a little more likely that the hypothesis is correct, and so it strengthens the conclusion.
Answer choice (B): This answer choice is incorrect because it focuses on the wrong role played by the phenazines. Do not be confused into thinking that the phenazines must either protect against foreign bacteria or provide interior bacteria access to the exterior nutrients. The hypothesis is that the phenazines play both roles.
Answer choice (C): It is not clear what effect this answer choice has on the hypothesis, because it does not tell us whether the interior bacteria thrive along with the colony as a whole. If the interior bacteria do thrive even in the absence of the phenazines, then that information would attack the hypothesis. However, we do not know that that is the case.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice supports the fact that one function of phenazines is to protect against foreign bacteria. However, this information is irrelevant to the hypothesis.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice has no effect on the hypothesis. We cannot be certain that the interior bacteria are more likely to die because they do not have access to the essential nutrients surrounding the colony, so this answer choice has no effect on the conclusion. However, if we were to assume that the reason the interior bacteria are more likely to die is lack of access to the essential nutrients, then this answer choice would attack the hypothesis.
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