Question: Q: I read this background article the other day: HIV , or human immunodeficiency virus, causes AIDS. AIDS stands for "acquired immune deficiency syndrome." It is a condition that causes death and does not have a known cure. AIDS usually develops 10 to 15 years after a person is first infected with HIV. The development of AIDS can be delayed with proper medicines. The delay can be well over 20 years with the right medicines. Today, individuals who acquire HIV after 50 years of age can expect to reach an average human life span.  I am facing a new situation today: Tom and Andy are two old friends. Tom was infected with HIV 20 years ago, and Andy has been helping him ever since. Andy is as healthy as an ox.  Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which friend has a disease without cure?
A: Tom

Q: I read this background article the other day: Acromyrmex heyeri is a species of leaf-cutter ant, a New World ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae of the genus Acromyrmex. Acromyrmex heyeri workers construct the colonies nest by thatching together cut grass. At temperatures ranging from 20–30 °C, workers created more openings in the nest thatch as the internal nest temperature goes up as a method of temperature regulation for the colony. The workers will close openings in the nest thatch as the air humidity surrounding the nest decreases to reduce water loss for the colony.  I am facing a new situation today: In the ant world a war has been waged. Two rival groups of Acromyrmex heyeri ants, group A and group B, are battling each other to gain territory. The goal is to attack the rival group when they have more openings in their nest thatch. In battle day one group A territory had 5 °C temperature. In battle day two group A territory had 22 °C temperature. In battle day three group A territory had low air humidity. In battle day four group A territory had high air humidity.  Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: In battle day one would group A have less openings or more openings in their nest thatch?
A: less openings

Q: I read this background article the other day: Conifers have many uses. They are important sources of lumber and are also used to make paper. Resins, the sticky substance you might see oozing out of a wound on a pine tree, are collected from conifers to make a variety of products, such as the solvent turpentine and the rosin used by musicians and baseball players. The sticky rosin improves the pitcher’s hold on the ball or increases the friction between the bow and the strings to help create music from a violin or other stringed instrument.  I am facing a new situation today: Two pitchers are trying out for a baseball team for the summer league. Joe accidentally got rosin on his fingers before going out to throw his pitches, but Mike's hands are clean of any extra substances. They both go out and pitch and the coaches make notes of their performances.  Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Who will have a worse grip on the ball?
A: Mike

Q: I read this background article the other day: Alkali, or Alkaline, soils are clay soils with high pH (> 8.5), a poor soil structure and a low infiltration capacity. Often they have a hard calcareous layer at 0.5 to 1 metre depth. Alkali soils owe their unfavorable physico-chemical properties mainly to the dominating presence of sodium carbonate, which causes the soil to swell[1] and difficult to clarify/settle. They derive their name from the alkali metal group of elements, to which sodium belongs, and which can induce basicity. Sometimes these soils are also referred to as alkaline sodic soils. Alkaline soils are basic, but not all basic soils are alkaline.  I am facing a new situation today: Two brothers have a piece of land each, situated 2 miles from each other. Jim's land is not very fertile because it has clay soil with a high pH, while Bob's land has very fertile soil and has a good productivity on it.  Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which of the two pieces of land has a high filtration capacity?
A:
Answer: Bob's