PrepTest 141, Section 3, Question 7
An organism is considered to have an infection(446 more words not shown)
Which one of the following,(11 more words not shown)
- ASeveral symptoms closely(16 more words not shown)
- BNone of the(22 more words not shown)
- CResearch undertaken subsequent(20 more words not shown)
- DEpidemiological studies carried(14 more words not shown)
- EA newly developed(17 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
To weaken the claim that prions cause CJD, we'd like evidence against that connection or evidence pointing to another cause. Merely showing that prions cause additional problems, or that CJD shares symptoms with another disease, wouldn't do it.
What we’re looking for
An effective treatment can help identify the cause if what it targets differs from the proposed cause. Keep that possibility in mind as we compare the choices.
Working the answers
- A
Similar symptoms don't establish the same disease or cause. A virus could produce symptoms resembling CJD while prions still cause CJD itself.
- B
Lacking a therapy that blocks the prion chain reaction doesn't undermine the chain reaction as the cause. It means we lack that treatment, which is already consistent with the account.
- C
Another harmful effect of prions wouldn't rule out their causing CJD. One agent can be associated with more than one condition.
- D
The explanation doesn't require a hereditary predisposition. Failing to find one therefore doesn't attack the proposed prion mechanism.
- ECorrect
A drug directed against bacteria is proving effective in reversing CJD's onset. Since bacteria are different from prions, that result points toward a bacterial explanation and gives us reason to question the proposed prion cause.
This doesn't conclusively prove bacteria are responsible; the drug might have another effect. But the question asks what most undermines the claim. A successful treatment aimed at a different kind of agent supplies a concrete reason for doubt that the other choices don't.
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