ParadoxDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Calcium is supposed to prevent bone loss, and milk has more of it than veggies do, but people in countries that eat mostly veggies instead of milk actually have much lower rates of bone disease.
Reasoning: Calcium deficiency causes osteoporosis and dairy has more calcium than vegetables, yet countries with low dairy consumption have lower rates of osteoporosis than high-dairy countries.
Analysis: The paradox lies in the fact that the group consuming the 'superior' calcium source (dairy) is faring worse than the group consuming the 'inferior' source (vegetables). To resolve this, we need a piece of information that explains this discrepancy. Perhaps the calcium in vegetables is absorbed more effectively, or perhaps dairy contains other components that actually contribute to bone loss despite the calcium content.
Reasoning: Calcium deficiency causes osteoporosis and dairy has more calcium than vegetables, yet countries with low dairy consumption have lower rates of osteoporosis than high-dairy countries.
Analysis: The paradox lies in the fact that the group consuming the 'superior' calcium source (dairy) is faring worse than the group consuming the 'inferior' source (vegetables). To resolve this, we need a piece of information that explains this discrepancy. Perhaps the calcium in vegetables is absorbed more effectively, or perhaps dairy contains other components that actually contribute to bone loss despite the calcium content.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage5.Which one of the following, if true, would most help to resolve the apparent discrepancy described by the physiologist?
Correct Answer
E
If fats in dairy inhibit calcium absorption, then even though dairy has more calcium per serving, people who consume a lot of dairy may absorb less calcium than expected. Meanwhile, those getting calcium from fruits and vegetables (typically lower in fat) might absorb more of what they ingest. That neatly explains why low-dairy countries can have lower osteoporosis rates despite lower per-serving calcium figures.
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