PT149 S3 Q5 ExplanationEating turmeric, a spice commonly found

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Weakens4% picked this

   Rosemary and ginger, which contain compounds that affect amyloid protein accumulation much like curcumin does, are commonly found in the diets

   This suggests an Alternate Explanation for why Indian people have lower rates of Alzheimer's. It's not the turmeric; it's the rosemary and ginger! Technically, it could be all three. So even if we want to think "this doesn't weaken", that's fair. But it certainly doesn't strengthen. It could add to the plausibility of this author's hypothesis if we were told "rosemary and ginger have ingredients that act like curcumin, and they are also correlated with lower rates of Alzheimer's in any culture that consumes them heavily".

   4%
2. B

   Weakens, if Anything1% picked this

   Many scientists believe that the buildup of amyloid protein plaques in the brain is a symptom of Alzheimer’s

   It's very weak impact to talk about what a handful of scientists believe. But it seems like even if we went with their idea, it would weaken. The author's causal story is this 1. eat turmeric 2. curcumin in your blood 3. curcumin breaks down amyloid plaques in your brain 4. keeps you from getting Alzheimer's The move from 3 to 4 assumes that the plaque causes the Alzheimer's. The author is thinking, "reduce the plaque ? prevent Alzheimer's". But if the plaque is a symptom of Alzheimer's, then turmeric just reduces a symptom; it doesn't prevent the disease.

   1%
3. C

   Weakens6% picked this

   The proportion of people living in India who fall within the age group that is most prone to developing Alzheimer’s disease is smaller than

   This provides an Alternate Explanation for why India has a lower than average rate of Alzheimer's. It's not the turmeric, it's the fact that there's a smaller percentage of the population that is at the age that is highest risk of Alzheimer's. Like if Alzheimer's is most common amongst people in their 70s, but India has a smaller percent of its population in their 70s than other countries do, then that would explain why they have a lower incidence of Alzheimer's.

   6%
4. D

   No Impact0% picked this

   None of the other compounds found in turmeric have been studied to see whether they affect the

   This has no effect, since it's just saying that we haven't studied something.

   0%
5. E

   Correct89% picked this

   The parts of India that have the highest per capita rates of curry consumption have the lowest

   Why this is right

   This strengthens the plausibility of the author's causal hypothesis (that turmeric helps prevent Alzheimer's) by giving us More Cause, More Effect data points. It's showing us more evidence of correlations between turmeric and Alzheimer's rates. Turmeric is commonly found in curries, and the parts of India where they eat the most curry (and thus presumably the most turmeric) are the places with the lowest incidence of Alzheimer's. This adds to the body of evidence we have suggesting that turmeric helps lower incidence of Alzheimer's.

   Skill tested: Strengthen · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   89%