A European doctor who worked in West Africa for two years

Question

A European doctor who worked in West Africa for two years reported that he never saw a case of appendicitis in the native African population. However, European personnel who came to work in the hospital sometimes developed appendicitis, as did their children, even those born and brought up in West Africa. The doctor also knew that Africans who immigrated to Europe sometimes developed appendicitis in Europe, at rates comparable to those for native Europeans. 

What is the best explanation for the observations?

A) The climate of Europe is much more conducive to appendicitis than is that of West Africa.

B) There are genetic differences which make Europeans much more susceptible to appendicitis than Black Africans.

C) Because western-style medicine has been introduced into this part of Africa only recently, the indigenous population has long ago developed a natural resistance to appendicitis.

D) The very high temperatures in the African environment tend to suppress the bacteria which cause appendicitis.

E) Some feature of the common diet of Europeans, something not normally present in the diet of indigenous Africans, is conducive to appendicitis.

  Will post all the OAs on SUNDAY! Enjoy the homework! :wink:

shahnandan · Answer

E.

ps_dahiya · Answer

I believe its C.

Why I rejected E:
To select E we have to assume that when europeans come to africa they still eat european diet but when africans go to europe instead of eating their own food they eat european food.

Why I selected C:
Its all because of medicine. Because africa don't have medicine, everybody there is immune to appendicitis. But european people take medicine and are not immune to appendicitis. But if africans go to europe, medicines are already present in europe and after being used to medicine, africans in europe loose their immunity.

shahnandan · Answer

deleted.

u2lover · Answer

OA is E

OE: Choice E seems to be the most promising explanation. If the European diet is to blame, this could explain why native Africans do not get appendicitis when living in Africa, but they become susceptible when living in Europe, if they have changed their diet to that of native Europeans. However, this explanation would assume that unlike Africans moving to Europe, Europeans who move to Africa do not change their European dietary habits.

rkatl · Answer

why not 'A' ? This is the case with less assumptions.

ps_dahiya · Answer

How can we assume such things. What if we assume that europians, living in africa, change their diet while africans, living in europe, don't change their diet.

This is frustrating!!!!!

u2lover · Answer

sorry dahiya... didn't mean to frusturate you :cry:

I got this one wrong as well :wink:

ps_dahiya · Answer

You don't have to feel sorry buddy. Sometimes I feel that I should burn all my books and leave for remote mountains of Himalaya.

u2lover · Answer

I promise myself to set a bonfire on a local beach with all GMAT books and take pictures of it... will post those here... it will be a great satisfaction after finishing with this evil test :twisted:

ps I am a u2loverGIRL... should of put that part on my club name... there seems to be mostly guys here, but than again... you can't tell :cry:

Any way to change club names w/out losing my trace?

jaynayak · Answer

Will go with E.

Actually its the clear winner.

A - That means Europeans in Africa should not be contracting appendicitis. Out

B - Then why do africans in Europe contract Appendicitis. Out
C - Again same as B
D - Same as A.

ps_dahiya · Answer

A beach will be an honour, better find a filthy trash disposal site. Nice to know that. Can I dare to ask your real name :wink:

Nope!!!

ywilfred · Answer

I think E is not a clear winner. E requires the assumption that Europeans residing in W.Africa continued with the diet as they had back in Europe.

A is much better. The fact that Tte climate of W.Africa is much less conducive to appendicitis than is that of Europe doesn't mean you will not get appendicitis. Less conducive is not the same as not conducive.

I would have gone for A too.

GMATT73 · Answer

Late, but (E) is the  best  explanation. All other answer choices are either illigical or 180s.

:45

Gauss · Answer

A European doctor who worked in West Africa for two years reported that he never saw a case of appendicitis in the native African population. However, European personnel who came to work in the hospital sometimes developed appendicitis, as did their children, even those born and brought up in West Africa. The doctor also knew that Africans who immigrated to Europe sometimes developed appendicitis in Europe, at rates comparable to those for native Europeans. 

What is the best explanation for the observations?

A) The climate of Europe is much more conducive to appendicitis than is that of West Africa. not a matter of climate if so european in africa should not have problem

B) There are genetic differences which make Europeans much more susceptible to appendicitis than Black Africans.  out then african in Europe should have no problem 

C) Because western-style medicine has been introduced into this part of Africa only recently, the indigenous population has long ago developed a natural resistance to appendicitis.  then they should have no problem once in Europe out... 

D) The very high temperatures in the African environment tend to suppress the bacteria which cause appendicitis.  to strong and does not support fact of doctor that move to africa get the problem 

E) Some feature of the common diet of Europeans, something not normally present in the diet of indigenous Africans, is conducive to appendicitis. address both premises,.... 

for me E even if I have some doubts noth really strong as argumentation....

xsports · Answer

E.
However, I do think the assumption stated above is asking for too much.

A European doctor who worked in West Africa for two years

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