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Official Explanation

4. The passage suggests that the cause of the increase in the number of the copies of the viruses found in the astronauts' systems

Explanation

The passage elucidates that viral infections are activated in people when they are under stress, and the greater the stress level, the higher the risk.

Options A, B, and D are eliminated as they do not find support in the passage.

Option E has support in the passage but is not the primary cause for the increase in the number of viruses found in the astronauts’ systems. It can be argued that many people live in cramped conditions who are not as immune because the stress levels are much lower.

Astronauts continually fear for their lives during space missions, which induces high levels of stress and thus reduces their immunity. Hence (C) is the correct answer.

Answer: C
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Explanation

­1. According to the passage, the Epstein-Barr virus is

Explanation

(A) The passage does not suggest that the Epstein-Barr virus is the greatest threat to astronauts in outer space. It mentions that the virus is normally harmless but becomes more active and replicates during space travel.

(B) The passage mentions that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with Burkitt's lymphoma, a type of cancer common in Africa, but it does not state that it has led to cancer among many astronauts.

(C) This is mentioned in the passage. Under normal conditions, the Epstein-Barr virus is considered harmless. It becomes activated when individuals are stressed.

(D) This is the correct answer. The passage emphasizes that EBV is normally harmless and becomes activated during stress, posing a potential threat in the context of space travel.

(E) The passage mentions elevated levels of cytomegalovirus in preliminary analyses but does not specifically attribute it to the Epstein-Barr virus. The connection between the two viruses is not explicitly stated in the passage.

Answer: D
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