Country X has the world's highest rate of skin cancer, a disease

Question

Country X has the world's highest rate of skin cancer, a disease caused mainly by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. There are three types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Every year, 2.7% of the population in Country X is diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, 1.3% with squamous cell carcinoma, and 0.8% with melanoma. The population of Country X buys more sun block than the population of any other country in the world.

Which of the following, if true, contributes most to a resolution of the above paradox?

(A) Ultraviolet radiation in Country X is stronger than anywhere else in the world.

(B) Awareness of the potential damage of exposure to the sun in Country X is high.

(C) Country X is the world leader in sunglasses and hat sales.

(D) The rate of cancer cases other than skin cancer in Country X is lower than the rate of skin cancer.

(E) 3.9% of the population in Country X are diagnosed with bowel cancer.

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nammolestias · Answer

I have selected option (A) and reason for selecting-if UV radiation is unusually strong, the population can use more sunblock than anywhere else and still have greater UV exposure and consequently higher skin-cancer rates.
Can someone help me if it is right

LogicDriven · Answer

(A) Ultraviolet radiation in Country X is stronger than anywhere else in the world.

Explanation: If the UV intensity in Country X is significantly extreme, even high sunblock usage isn't enough to prevent damage

dhart · Answer

Yes , since UV rays are unusually strong, the population can use more sunblock than anywhere else and still have greater UV exposure and consequently higher skin-cancer rates, so A qualifies

Minka99 · Answer

A is the  correct  answer.  We are looking for to find out why the population of county X has such a high skin cancer rate despite often purchasing sun screen. 
A) explains this paradox well. Even though people buy sunscreen, UV radiation is particularly strong there, thereby increasing risk of skin cancer.
B) this would weaken; if people have high awareness of skin cancer they would do more to protect themselves from UV rays
C) this would weaken; same principle as B
D) this would weaken; the country is only known for higher than average skin cancer rates, so the choice that cancer is more likely in general, is out!
E) irrelevant! The passage is concerned with only skin cancer and the 3 types that fall under it

Vivek1707 · Answer

A. Yup this explains. If UV radiation is much stronger in Country X, even heavy sunblock use may not be enough to prevent the unusually high cancer rate.
B. High awareness makes the high cancer rate more puzzling; it doesn't explain it.
C. More hats and sunglasses would make the high cancer rate even harder to explain.
D. Cancer other than skin cancer is irrelevant to the paradox.
E. Bowel cancer has nothing to do with the relationship between UV exposure, sunblock, and skin cancer.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Country X has the world's highest rate of skin cancer, a disease caused mainly by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. There are three types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Every year, 2.7% of the population in Country X is diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, 1.3% with squamous cell carcinoma, and 0.8% with melanoma. The population of Country X buys more sun block than the population of any other country in the world.

Which of the following, if true, contributes most to a resolution of the above paradox?

(A) Ultraviolet radiation in Country X is stronger than anywhere else in the world.

This is a Paradox question, so it is made up of premises only; you need to find a new premise which best resolves the apparent discrepancy between the existing premises:

Premise A: Country X has the world's highest rate of skin cancer, which is caused by UV radiation
+
Premise B: there are 3 types of cancer...
+
Premise C: every year that many people are diagnosed with having one of the 3 kinds
✖
Premise C: the people of Country X buy a lot of sun block

Resolving Premise: ?

This answer choice explains why the premises in the argument do not contradict each other. Even though the people of Country X use a lot of sun block, the UV radiation is so strong that a lot of them still get skin cancer.

(B) Awareness of the potential damage of exposure to the sun in Country X is high.

Incorrect.

This is a Paradox question, so it is made up of premises only; you need to find a new premise which best resolves the apparent discrepancy between the existing premises:

Premise A: Country X has the world's highest rate of skin cancer, which is caused by UV radiation
+
Premise B: there are 3 types of cancer...
+
Premise C: every year that many people are diagnosed with having one of the 3 kinds
✖
Premise C: the people of Country X buy a lot of sun block

Resolving Premise: ?

This answer choice lends support to the premise presented in the last sentence of the argument. In doing so, it actually emphasizes the paradox rather than resolve it. If the people of Country X are so aware, then why are they getting skin cancer?

(C) Country X is the world leader in sunglasses and hat sales.

Incorrect.

This answer choice lends support to the premise presented in the last sentence of the argument. In doing so, it actually emphasizes the paradox rather than resolve it. If many of the people of Country X wear hats and sunglasses, which also provide some protection from the sun, then why are they getting skin cancer?

(D) The rate of cancer cases other than skin cancer in Country X is lower than the rate of skin cancer.

Incorrect.

Cancer types other than skin cancer are outside the scope of this argument. Therefore, this statement cannot help us resolve the paradox.

(E) 3.9% of the population in Country X are diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Incorrect.

Cancer types other than skin cancer are outside the scope of this argument. Therefore, this statement cannot help us resolve the paradox.

Country X has the world's highest rate of skin cancer, a disease

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­Country X has the world's highest rate of skin cancer, a disease

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Country X has the world's highest rate of skin cancer, a disease