Quartzbrook Farms wanted to test all of its cattle for a rare disease so it could export beef to a country that requires such testing. However, the government of Quartzbrook’s country prohibited it from testing its cattle, on the grounds that there is no scientific evidence that the risk posed by the disease justifies such testing and that the public could be misled into thinking that the testing was scientifically warranted if Quartzbrook performed the tests.
Summary
Quartzbrook Farms wanted to test all of its cattle for a rare disease in order to export beef to a country that requires such testing. However, Quartzbrook’s government prohibited the farm from testing its cattle. The government claims there is no scientific evidence the risk posed by the disease justifies such testing, and the public could be misled into thinking the testing was scientifically warranted if the farm performed the tests.
Notable Valid Inferences
A government can prohibit testing if such testing is not justified by the risk posed to the public.
A
Governments can rightfully require product testing deemed necessary to protect public safety but cannot rightfully prohibit testing even if such testing is not justified by the risk involved.
Must be false. The stimulus tells us that Quartzbrook’s government did prohibit testing and did so on the grounds that the risks posed by the disease did not justify testing. Therefore governments can rightfully prohibit testing even if testing is not justified by the risks.
B
Governments should seek to determine when product safety testing is justified by the risk posed and should provide this information to companies that are considering such testing.
Could be true. It is possible that Quartzbrook’s government had already investigated if product safety testing was justified or not.
C
A government should not allow a company to perform unnecessary product safety tests if that company’s doing so will give consumers the impression that such tests should be performed.
Could be true. The consumers’ impression was the grounds for Quartzbrook’s government to prohibit the farm from testing their cattle.
D
A government should not spend taxpayers’ money performing product safety tests if the risk posed by the products does not justify the expense of the tests.
Could be true. The stimulus does not give us any information about the source of funding for the tests. It is possible that Quartzbrook Farms planned to pay for the testing privately without using taxpayer dollars.
E
It is fair for a country’s government to require foreign companies to test the products they export to that country as long as it requires domestic companies to perform the same tests.
Could be true. The stimulus does not give us any information about Quartzbrook’s government requiring foreign companies to test. It is possible that Quartzbrook’s government imposes the same standards on foreign companies as it did on Quartzbrook Farms.
Nutritionist: Contrary to popular belief, a high-calcium diet does not prevent osteoporosis (decrease in bone density). Rather, a low-protein diet with an abundance of fruits and vegetables and a minimum quantity of meat and dairy products is essential for the prevention of the condition. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking or climbing stairs, is also essential, since bones thicken when they withstand regular resistance.
Summarize Argument
The nutritionist claims—with no support—that a high-calcium diet doesn’t prevent osteoporosis but a low-protein, low-meat, low-dairy, high-fruit-and-vegetable diet is essential for preventing it. She also claims that weight-bearing exercise is essential for the prevention of osteoporosis, and cites support: regular resistance causes bones to thicken.
Notable Assumptions
The nutritionist assumes weight-bearing exercise provides regular resistance not provided by non-weight-bearing exercise. Every incorrect answer will strengthen that assumption or offer support for her other claims—that a high-calcium diet doesn’t prevent osteoporosis, and that a low-protein, low-meat, low-dairy, high-fruit-and-vegetable diet is essential for preventing osteoporosis.
A
Astronauts who have lived in the weightless environment of space have exhibited decreases in bone density despite vigorous physical activity.
This supports the nutritionist’s assumption that weight-bearing exercise offers more regular resistance than non-weight-bearing exercise. It points out a group that exercised in a non-weight-bearing way and suffered high rates of osteoporosis.
B
Certain medical therapies that do not involve special diets can be effective means of preventing osteoporosis.
This implies a low-meat-and-dairy, high-fruit-and-vegetable diet isn’t actually necessary for preventing osteoporosis. It casts doubt on the nutritionist’s claim that such a diet is essential.
C
Populations in countries with the lowest per capita rates of protein consumption have some of the lowest incidences of osteoporosis.
This supports the nutritionist’s claim that low-protein diets are essential for preventing osteoporosis by pointing out a correlation between low protein intake and low rates of osteoporosis.
D
Arctic peoples, who consume large amounts of calcium, exhibit one of the highest rates of osteoporosis in the world.
This supports the nutritionist’s claim that high-calcium diets are not essential for preventing osteoporosis by pointing out a counterexample: one population with both high calcium consumption and high rates of osteoporosis.
E
The incidence of osteoporosis is unusually low among strict vegetarians with low-protein diets.
This supports the nutritionist’s claim that low-protein, low-meat diets are essential for preventing osteoporosis by pointing to an example: low-protein vegetarians, who suffer osteoporosis at low rates.
A
Some Common Eiders that lay their eggs in nests established by other Common Eiders have been observed, in subsequent years, building nests of their own in the nature preserve.
B
Established nests concealed in woody vegetation are difficult for Common Eiders to detect.
C
Defensive behavior by nest builders can sometimes deter intruding Common Eiders.
D
Virtually all of the island nature preserve consists of habitats that have been, at some point in the past, altered by humans.
E
Foxes and other natural predators of the Common Eider are not uncommon in the island nature preserve.
Miranda: The bank should have realized that with all the fast-food places on 10th Street, one lacking indoor seating was likely to fail. So it was irresponsible of them to lend the money for it.