Q: I read this background article the other day: Soon after the original study was published, other researchers tried to replicate the research. However, it could not be replicated. No other studies could find a link between the vaccine and autism. As a result, scientists became convinced that the original results were incorrect. Eventually, investigators determined that the original study was a fraud. They learned that its author had received a large amount of money to find evidence that the vaccine causes autism, so he faked his research results. If other scientists had not tried to replicate the research, the truth might never have come out. You can read more about this case at the URL below. I am facing a new situation today: John works for the NSF. He has two research proposals in front of him, case A and case B. Both are looking for further funding. Case A research has been replicated by other researchers, but case B research could not be replicated by others. He needs to decide which research should get further funding. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Would case A's original results were more likely or less likely correct than case B' results?
A: more likely

Q: I read this background article the other day: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi vary across many environmental gradients. Their tolerance to freezing and drying is known to shift between AM fungal taxa. AM fungi become less prevalent and diverse at higher soil nutrient and moisture concentrations, presumably because both plants allocate less carbon to AM fungi and AM fungi reallocate their resources to intraradical hyphae in these environmental conditions. Over the long term, these environmental conditions can even create local adaptation between plant hosts, AM fungi and the local soil nutrient concentrations. I am facing a new situation today: Greg and Paul were two neighbors. They were both into mycology. Greg researched AM fungi, while Paul studied other types of mycorrhizal fungi. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which researcher learned more about the prevalence of AM fungi at lower soil nutrient concentrations?
A: Greg

Q: I read this background article the other day: Boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 13 should get 9 mg of iron every day. Girls between the ages of 14 and 18 should get 15 mg of iron every day. Boys between the ages of 14 and 18 should get 11 mg of iron every day. Pregnant women need the most iron27 mg daily. Good sources of iron include shellfish, such as clams and oysters. Red meats, such as beef, are also a good source of iron. Non-animal sources of iron include seeds, nuts, and legumes. Breakfast cereals often have iron added to them in a process called fortification. Some good sources of iron are listed below ( Table below ). Eating vitamin C along with iron-containing food increases the amount of iron that the body can absorb. I am facing a new situation today: A brother and sister are going to the doctor to get their physical done before the start of the school year. Jessica, the sister, and Mike, the brother, are both in the same grade in high school. Neither are having any issues, but are simply going as a precautionary measure in case there is something the doctor can find out. Also, it's a requirement to get regular physicals in order to attend schools so that's another major reason both are going. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Who is more likely to be told they need to eat more red meat?
A: Jessica

Q: I read this background article the other day: The brains of all mammals have a unique layer of nerve cells covering the cerebrum. This layer is called the neocortex (the pink region of the brains in Figure above ). The neocortex plays an important role in many complex brain functions. In some mammals, such as rats, the neocortex is relatively smooth. In other mammals, especially humans, the neocortex has many folds. The folds increase the surface area of the neocortex. The larger this area is, the greater the mental abilities of an animal. I am facing a new situation today: Two students read about brains in the animal kingdom. Tom read more about the brains of mammals, while Reed learned more about the brains of amphibians. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which student learned less about many complex brain functions?
A:
Reed