Exposure to a large dose of something that causes bodily damagesuch

Question

Exposure to a large dose of something that causes bodily damage—such as excessive heat, poison, or nuclear radiation—is of course harmful to an organism. But, surprisingly, exposure to small doses of such stressors has been shown to extend life span in various species, including fruit flies, protozoans, worms, and rodents.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the surprising phenomenon described above?

(A) In most of the species in which exposure to small doses of stressors increases longevity, the increase is so small that it is barely measurable.

(B) Exposure to small doses of stressors stimulates an organism’s natural repair mechanisms to fix any damage caused by the stressors as well as some unrelated damage.

(C) Exposure to a given dose of a poison or other stressor may cause more serious damage to some members of a species than to others.

(D) Repeated exposure to a stressor is much more likely than a single exposure to cause permanent damage to an organism.

(E) Even a substance that is extremely toxic will not harm an organism if the organism is exposed to only an extremely small quantity of the substance.

winterschool · Answer

B explain the discrepancy of the argument. how small doses can helpful to increase the life span. 
A - it cant explain why life span increase
C - Irrelevant
D - Irrelevant
E - Irrelevant

dhs0079 · Answer

The answer should be B - rest are off the course/don’t convey the intended ask of the question.

Posted from my mobile device

wadhwakaran · Answer

Premise : Exposure to large dose of heat, poison, nuclear radiation causes bodily damage and is harmful to organism.
 Counter Premise : Exposure to small doses of such stressor has shown to extend life span in various species.
 
Because small exposure to these stressors increases immunity of the organism and thus life span is extended in various species.

(A) In most of the species in which exposure to small doses of stressors increases longevity, the increase is so small that it is barely measurable.  Incorrect as it does not resolve paradox

(B) Exposure to small doses of stressors stimulates an organism’s natural repair mechanisms to fix any damage caused by the stressors as well as some unrelated damage.  Correct in line with our thinking above

(C) Exposure to a given dose of a poison or other stressor may cause more serious damage to some members of a species than to others.  No such comparison is given in the premise

(D) Repeated exposure to a stressor is much more likely than a single exposure to cause permanent damage to an organism.  No such comparison is given in the premise

(E) Even a substance that is extremely toxic will not harm an organism if the organism is exposed to only an extremely small quantity of the substance.  the word extremely is problematic here as it is not used in premise

Exposure to a large dose of something that causes bodily damagesuch

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Exposure to a large dose of something that causes bodily damagesuch

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