Q22

[shirando21]

why can't E be correct?

Why is B the right answer?

Help!

[demetri.blaisdell]

This passage gives us three broad categories of viruses:

Rhinoviruses: require physical proximity to pass to another host so they can't make someone so sick that they stay home or die. For that reason, they are less virulent.

Vector-borne pathogens: get transmitted by something else (like a mosquito) so it's OK to incapacitate or kill the host. The goal is to raise the concentration of the virus (more virulent) so the tiny bit of blood that the mosquito picks up will have a lot of virus in it.

Diptheria and tuberculosis: these are the odd viruses that scientists call "sit-and-wait" pathogens. They are very virulent but don't get transmitted by bugs. Rather, they can live for a long time after the host dies and then pass by physical proximity. That's dangerous because they are both very virulent and capable of passing by physical proximity.

(B) describes the "sit-and-wait" pathogens. They are dangerous (lines 58-59) and can live outside the host (lines 53-54).

The wrong answers:

(A) is contradicted. These viruses are so dangerous because they can live for so long outside their host.

(C) is also contradicted. The "sit-and-wait" pathogens are among the most dangerous and aren't spread by vectors.

(D) is again contradicted. See (B) above.

(E) sounds good as far the "sit-and-wait" pathogens are concerned. But wait! The rhinoviruses (like the common cold) are also transmitted directly (see lines 23-25) and aren't capable of incapacitating the victim (lines 28-30).

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions.

Demetri

[erikwoodward10]

This question is a great example of why extreme answer choices tend to be wrong.