[Q]: I read this background article the other day: Cholesterol has been implicated in heart disease for decades. Atherosclerosis is a disorder of the arteries in which cholesterol and other materials are deposited on the interior of the arterial wall. These deposits lead to the formation of plaques that can restrict or even block the flow of blood through these blood vessels (see Figure below ). A decrease in the flow of blood can lead to high blood pressure and a lowered oxygen supply to the heart muscle. A complete blockage of blood flow to parts of the heart (a heart attack) can cause significant damage due to oxygen deprivation, in some cases leading to death. I am facing a new situation today: Fred was a good athlete in his youth, and so was Vic. Fred started eating junk food and other fatty foods in his 30's. His cholesterol is very high now. Vic became a vegan later,and he is in a very good physical shape. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which friend had a normal blood flow to the heart?
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[A]: Vic

[Q]: I read this background article the other day: An allergy is a disease in which the immune system makes an inflammatory response to a harmless antigen . Any antigen that causes an allergy is called an allergen. Allergens may be inhaled or ingested, or they may come into contact with the skin. Two common causes of allergies are shown in Figure below . Inhaling ragweed pollen may cause coughing and sneezing. Skin contact with oils in poison ivy may cause an itchy rash. Other common causes of allergies include dust mites, mold, animal dander, insect stings, latex, and certain food and medications. Symptoms of a common allergy such as pollen can include sneezing, a runny nose, nasal congestion and itchy, watery eyes. I am facing a new situation today: A pharmaceutical company is trying to find the cure for allergy. To that end, they conducted an experiment with two groups of subjects, group A and group B. They exposed the participants in group A to allergen, but they didn't expose the participants in group B to any allergen. The symptoms of these two groups would help them find the cure for allergy. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which group might not have been exposed to dust mites, mold, or animal dander, group A or group B?
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[A]: group B

[Q]: I read this background article the other day: Fish mortality is a parameter used in fisheries population dynamics to account for the loss of fish in a fish stock through death. The mortality can be divided into two types: Natural mortality: the removal of fish from the stock due to causes not associated with fishing. Such causes can include disease, competition, cannibalism, old age, predation, pollution or any other natural factor that causes the death of fish. In fisheries models natural mortality is denoted by (M).[1] Fishing mortality: the removal of fish from the stock due to fishing activities using any fishing gear.[1] It is denoted by (F) in fisheries models. I am facing a new situation today: Mary's lake was full of fish, the lake's environment was very healthy. Mary stopped fishing on this lake five years ago and maintained it properly. Jane's lake had high fish mortality both from fishing and pollution, and disease from overstocking. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which lake had a lower water pollution?
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[A]: Mary's

[Q]: I read this background article the other day: Some individuals have a specific mutation in the primary sequence of their hemoglobin molecules that causes them to aggregate, resulting in a deformation of their red blood cells. This abnormality is genetic in nature. A person may inherit the gene from one parent and have sickle cell trait (only some of the hemoglobin is hemoglobin S), which is usually not life-threatening. Inheriting the gene from both parents will result in sickle cell disease, which is a very serious condition. I am facing a new situation today: Barb and Ann were friends. The used to play together outside in the yard till one day Barb's parents found out that she had sickle cell anemia. They haven't played together since. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which girl didn't have a mutation in the primary sequence of their hemoglobin molecules?
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[A]:
Ann