The deficiency of a given nutrient in ones diet will degrade the body

Question

The deficiency of a given nutrient in one’s diet will degrade the body’s ability to make use of the nutrient, a process known as malabsorption; this holds true for both macronutrients and micronutrients, including vitamin B12. If one endures a prolonged duration of minimal B12 intake, one’s body becomes unable to absorb sufficient amounts of B12. This degradation can be severe and long-lasting. Physicians have noted that patients who have experienced prolonged B12 deficiencies remain unable to absorb the vitamin at a normal rate, even after having maintained a B12-rich diet for a prolonged duration.

Most research on nutrient deficiencies involves only subjects experiencing relatively brief durations of nutrient deficiency; however, as B12 malabsorption can occur during relatively short durations of deficiency, such durations are usually sufficient for research into B12 deficiency. However, practically, B12 deficiencies are typically diagnosed quite late, meaning the typical atrophy experienced by a B12-deficient patient may differ considerably from that produced by short-term deficiencies. For example, even short durations of B12 deficiency can briefly impair the stomach’s production of the enzyme needed for B12 absorption, a process known as “ gastric atrophy ”. Prolonged deficiency, however, could lead to protracted impairment, possibly by causing lasting damage to the stomach cells responsible for enzyme production.    1 
 1. According to the passage, in the case of vitamin B12, malabsorption may cause individuals who begin consuming vitamin B12 regularly after a prolonged duration of deficiency to

A. absorb a typical amount of vitamin B12
B. display an enhanced capacity for vitamin B12 absorption
C. absorb vitamin B12 more rapidly than normal
D. be unable to properly absorb other micronutrients
E. absorb lower than normal amounts of vitamin B12

2  
 2. The passage asserts which of the following about the B12 deficiencies induced in the “research on nutrient deficiencies”?

A. The relatively short durations of deficiency produce reductions in the subjects’ B12 absorption capacity that are similar to the reductions caused by long-term deficiencies.
B. Their duration is long enough for researchers to study many aspects of malabsorption.
C. Their relatively short durations are often not enough to cause malabsorption in study subjects.
D. They have rarely been resumed after the reintroduction of B12 into the subject's diet.
E. They are intended to reflect the, in practice, relatively short durations of most B12 deficiencies.

3  
 3. The author of the passage mentions “gastric atrophy”  Highlighted ] primarily to

A. help demonstrate how the information obtained through most research on B12 deficiency may not be enough to explain the effects of extended deficiencies
B. show how research on short-term biochemical changes caused by B12 deficiency has only accounted for the reduction in absorption capability produced by relatively brief B12 deficiencies
C. furnish an example of a process that subjects would likely not experience during an extended duration without vitamin B12
D. qualify a claim regarding the degree and extent of the biochemical changes caused by long-term B12 deficiencies
E. explain the biological process that is thought to be responsible for long-lasting degradation in the body’s ability to absorb nutrients

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Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. According to the passage, in the case of vitamin B12, malabsorption may cause individuals who begin consuming vitamin B12 regularly after a prolonged duration of deficiency to

Mind-map

A particular medical phenomenon is introduced and explained 
 A convenience that facilitates study into this phenomenon is explained 
 A particular challenge involved in studying the long-term effects of this phenomenon is explained

A.  The passage states that one aspect of malabsorption is that  “...patients who have experienced prolonged B12 deficiencies remain unable to absorb the vitamin at a normal rate, even after...having maintained a B12-rich diet...” , implying that malabsorption may cause individuals to absorb less vitamin B12 than is typical. Incorrect.

B.  The passage states that one aspect of malabsorption is that  “...patients who have experienced prolonged B12 deficiencies remain unable to absorb the vitamin at a normal rate, even after...following a B12-rich diet...” , implying that malabsorption may diminish, not enhance, the capacity to absorb vitamin B12. Incorrect.

C.  The passage states that one aspect of malabsorption is that  “...patients who have experienced prolonged B12 deficiencies remain unable to absorb the vitamin at a normal rate, even after...having maintained a B12-rich diet...” , implying that malabsorption may cause individuals to absorb vitamin B12 more slowly, not more rapidly, than normal. Incorrect.

D.  The passage does not reference any micronutrient other than B12. Incorrect.

E. Correct.  The passage states that one aspect of malabsorption is that  “...patients who have experienced prolonged B12 deficiencies remain unable to absorb the vitamin at a normal rate, even after...having maintained a B12-rich diet...” ; hence, it can be inferred that malabsorption may cause individuals to absorb less vitamin B12 than normal.

Thus, E is the correct answer choice.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. The passage asserts which of the following about the B12 deficiencies induced in the “research on nutrient deficiencies”?

Mind-map

A particular medical phenomenon is introduced and explained   
   A convenience that facilitates study into this phenomenon is explained   
   A particular challenge involved in studying the long-term effects of this phenomenon is explained

A.  The passage states that  “...the typical atrophy experienced by a B12-deficient patient may differ considerably from that produced by short-term deficiencies...” . Incorrect.

B. Correct.  The passage states that  “...such durations are usually sufficient for research into B12 deficiency...” ; hence, it can be inferred that the duration of B12 deficiencies induced in the mentioned research is long enough to study many aspects of malabsorption.

C. Trap.  The passage states that  “...such durations are usually sufficient for research into B12 deficiency...” , implying that the B12 deficiencies induced as part of the mentioned research are long enough to cause malabsorption. Incorrect.

D.  The passage does not reference whether the  “research on nutrient deficiencies”  involves inducing a B12 deficiency multiple times in the same subject. Incorrect.

E.  The passage states that  “...practically, B12 deficiencies are typically diagnosed quite late...” , implying that, in practice, B12 deficiencies last longer than deficiencies induced as part of the mentioned research do. Incorrect.

Thus, B is the correct answer choice.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. The author of the passage mentions “gastric atrophy”      Highlighted     ] primarily t    o

Mind-map

A particular medical phenomenon is introduced and explained   
   A convenience that facilitates study into this phenomenon is explained   
   A particular challenge involved in studying the long-term effects of this phenomenon is explained

A. Correct.  The usage of the clause  “Most research on nutrient deficiencies involves relatively brief durations without the nutrient...”  in conjunction with  “...the typical atrophy experienced by a B12-deficient patient may differ considerably from that produced by short-term deficiencies...”  implies that most research into B12 deficiencies is limited, as the effects produced by short-term B12 deficiency differ from those produced by more sustained deficiency; the passage then cites  “gastric atrophy”  as an effect that can be produced by even brief durations of B12 deficiency; hence, it can be inferred that the passage mentions  “gastric atrophy”  to help demonstrate how the = information obtained through most research on B12 deficiency may not be enough to explain the effects of extended deficiencies. Simply put, as the mind-map indicates,  “gastric atrophy”  is mentioned in the portion of the passage that explains a challenge in studying the long-term effects of B-12 deficiency.

B. Big Trap.  The passage does not reference any research focused specifically on the short-term effects of B12 deficiency. Besides, as the mind-map indicates, the passage references  “gastric atrophy”  as part of an explanation of how general research into B-12 deficiencies has not been able to explain the effects of long-term deficiencies. Incorrect.

C. Trap.  The usage of the clause  “...durations of B12 deficiency can...impair...B12 absorption...”  in conjunction with the phrase  “...a process known as ‘gastric atrophy’...”  indicates that a subject experiencing an extended duration without vitamin B12 would likely experience gastric atrophy. Incorrect.

D.  The usage of the clause  “...even short durations of B12 deficiency can briefly impair...B12 absorption...”  in conjunction with the phrase  “...a process known as ‘gastric atrophy’...” implies that “gastric atrophy”  can be caused by short-term B12 deficiencies; hence, it cannot be inferred that the mention of  “gastric atrophy”  can qualify a claim about long-term B12 deficiencies. Incorrect.

E.  The usage of the clause  “...durations of B12 deficiency can...impair...B12 absorption...”  in conjunction with the phrase  “...a process known as ‘gastric atrophy’...”  indicates that the passage mentions  “gastric atrophy”  as an example of degradation in the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, rather than as part of an explanation of the underlying biological process. Incorrect.

Thus, A is the correct answer choice.

The deficiency of a given nutrient in ones diet will degrade the body

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