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Difficulty:
95%
(hard)
Question Stats:
36% (01:47) correct
64%
(01:55)
wrong
based on 394
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Many studies have shown that individuals who consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables have lower rates of cardiovascular disease. However, a recent study found that a group of individuals who followed a strict vegetarian diet, which includes only plant-based foods, had higher rates of cardiovascular disease compared to a group of individuals who consumed a balanced diet that included both plant-based and animal-based foods. This finding seems contradictory to the previous studies.
Which of the following, if true, resolves the paradox?
(A) The individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher overall calorie intake compared to the individuals in the balanced diet group.
(B) The individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher average body mass index (BMI) compared to the individuals in the balanced diet group.
(C) The individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher intake of processed vegetarian foods that are high in sodium and unhealthy fats.
(D) The individuals in the balanced diet group had a higher prevalence of pre-existing medical conditions related to cardiovascular health compared to the individuals in the vegetarian group.
(E) The individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease compared to the individuals in the balanced diet group.
_________________
Which of the following, if true, resolves the paradox?
(A) The individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher overall calorie intake compared to the individuals in the balanced diet group.
(B) The individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher average body mass index (BMI) compared to the individuals in the balanced diet group.
(C) The individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher intake of processed vegetarian foods that are high in sodium and unhealthy fats.
(D) The individuals in the balanced diet group had a higher prevalence of pre-existing medical conditions related to cardiovascular health compared to the individuals in the vegetarian group.
(E) The individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease compared to the individuals in the balanced diet group.
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Bunuel
I have seen many posts given the answer E. That was also my answer. I believe that the genetic predisposition would explain the results. Answer C can only be correct if a higher intake of pocessed vegetarian foods that are high in sodium and unhealthy fats can lead to a cardiovascular disease; however, that information is not in the stimulus.
As I see it Letter C relies on an assumption that may not be true. Without a link between processed food and cardiovascular disease, this answer does not explain the result.
I do not think this is a good GMAT question.
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Clipper Ledgard
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Bunuel
Unacademy Official Explanation:
Answer: The correct answer is C.
The paradox in the argument is that individuals who follow a strict vegetarian diet, which is rich in fruits and vegetables, have higher rates of cardiovascular disease compared to individuals who consume a balanced diet. Option C resolves the paradox by providing an explanation for the higher rates of cardiovascular disease in the vegetarian group. It states that the individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher intake of processed vegetarian foods that are high in sodium and unhealthy fats. This suggests that the quality of the vegetarian diet, specifically the consumption of processed foods, could be a contributing factor to the higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, option C resolves the paradox by providing a plausible explanation for the contradictory finding.
Option A does not explain why the vegetarian group has higher rates of cardiovascular disease despite consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Option B does not provide a reason for the higher rates of cardiovascular disease in the vegetarian group. Option D introduces a new factor (pre-existing medical conditions) that is unrelated to the paradox. Option E introduces a genetic predisposition, which is also unrelated to the paradox. Only option C directly addresses the contradictory finding and provides a potential explanation for it.
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General Discussion
nivivacious
Joined: 10 Mar 2015
Last visit: 18 Aug 2024
Posts: 237
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
GPA: 3.5
WE:Advertising (Advertising and PR)
Posts: 237
Bunuel
(A) The individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher overall calorie intake compared to the individuals in the balanced diet group.
Incorrect. A higher calorie intake doesn't directly correlate with higher rates of cardiovascular disease.
(B) The individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher average body mass index (BMI) compared to the individuals in the balanced diet group.
Incorrect. It doesn't explain why a vegetarian diet would lead to a higher BMI
(C) The individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher intake of processed vegetarian foods that are high in sodium and unhealthy fats.
Correct. This resolves the paradox. Even though they were consuming a vegetarian diet, the high sodium and unhealthy fats in processed foods could lead to higher rates of cardiovascular disease.
(D) The individuals in the balanced diet group had a higher prevalence of pre-existing medical conditions related to cardiovascular health compared to the individuals in the vegetarian group.
Incorrect. It doesn't explain why the vegetarian group would have higher rates of cardiovascular disease.
(E) The individuals in the vegetarian group had a higher genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease compared to the individuals in the balanced diet group.
Incorrect. Although this potentially could explain the higher rates of cardiovascular disease, it doesn't explain why a vegetarian diet would lead to higher rates of cardiovascular disease.
Bunuel
The effect of BMI, calorie intake and processed food is not mentioned in the passage. We do not know for sure how they will impact the rates of cardiovascular disease. A, B and C are out.
D actually complicates the situation more by providing the counter explanation. D is out.
E gives a clear case of impact on rates of cardiovascular disease on the vegetarian group by mentioning that the vegetarian group had higher risk to begin with. E is the answer.
How can the Answer to this question be C when , A and B are also asserts ideas outside the scope of statement .(Higher calorie/Higher BMI/ Processed food are not specifically related to Cardio disease in the statement ). For a group to be distinct from an established similar group there must be any pre existing condition., Like pre-existing a medical condition ..Hence i think E as answer to the paradox. Please correct me if am wrong.
GMAT Focus 1: 745 Q86 V90 DI85 
Posts: 3,003
I suppose the main problem here is in the answer key/explanation. Whoever wrote the "official explanation" doesn't seem to have a strong command of how this question type works. E clearly helps to resolve the paradox, while D heightens it. Neither is irrelevant.
C is tempting, but as others have pointed out, we have to rely on real-world knowledge to connect these foods to cardiovascular disease. Also, if we're being precise, it says that the veg group ate more processed VEGETARIAN foods. Maybe the "balanced" group ate more processed animal-based foods, or other unhealthy foods.
So in short, choose answer E (and eat your veggies!), and don't rely too much on sketchy unofficial material!
_________________
C is tempting, but as others have pointed out, we have to rely on real-world knowledge to connect these foods to cardiovascular disease. Also, if we're being precise, it says that the veg group ate more processed VEGETARIAN foods. Maybe the "balanced" group ate more processed animal-based foods, or other unhealthy foods.
So in short, choose answer E (and eat your veggies!), and don't rely too much on sketchy unofficial material!
_________________
Manhattan Prep Instructor from 2009-2025
GMAT Focus 1: 655 Q88 V86 DI73
Posts: 3
My choice is C, because it directly solve the paradox between the illness rates of 100% vegetarian and 80% vegetarian
This explanation is not satisfactory
Reason being - we are already given the veg group was strictly sustaining on plant based diet
so having unprocessed food does not come into picture
Additionally, eliminating E, just because genetic predisposition is not mentioned in the stem is again illogical
E gives us another reason for the perceived difference
Reason being - we are already given the veg group was strictly sustaining on plant based diet
so having unprocessed food does not come into picture
Additionally, eliminating E, just because genetic predisposition is not mentioned in the stem is again illogical
E gives us another reason for the perceived difference
Bunuel
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