PrepTest 137

Incorrect. Even if we accept that the group of overweight individuals and those who consume large amounts of sugar completely overlap, this answer still doesn't explain how the overconsumption of sugar lowers blood sugar levels.

Incorrect. This answer doesn't explain how eating too much sugar lowers blood sugar levels, even if consumed via fruits, veggies, meat, and dairy.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
Eating sugar raises blood sugar levels. However, people who eat the most sugar have below-average blood sugar.

Answer Anticipation:
This argument specifically references only one group—those who eat large amounts of sugar. However, it implicitly references another group by discussing "below-average" blood sugar levels, and by talking about the normal effect sugar has on blood sugar levels—the "normal" or overall group. And by bringing up that the sugar-consuming group has "below-average" blood sugar levels, the stimulus is comparing these groups.

Since this is a Paradox question based on a comparison, we should expect the correct answer to highlight another relevant difference between the groups, or between the body's reaction between consuming "normal" amounts of sugar and "large amounts," that would account for the below-average blood sugar levels, despite the general trend towards consuming sugar increasing that level.

Answer Explanation:
This answer highlights the body's different reaction to consuming large amounts of sugar—it secretes "abnormally high" amounts of insulin, which metabolizes the sugar and thus explains the below-average levels.

Key Takeaway:
Clearly define the paradox in Paradox questions to have a leg up in finding the correct answer.

Incorrect. First, this answer only deals with a long-term explanation, not a short-term one, and the paradox revolves around both. Second, if consuming large amounts of sugar leads to the body not producing a sugar-metabolizing enzyme, then it'd be expected that people would see above-average levels of unmetabolized sugar in their blood, thus exacerbating the paradox.

Incorrect. This answer doesn't explain why it gets metabolized once in the blood to such a high level in those who consume large amounts of sugar.