PrepTest 94+, Section 2, Question 24
Researcher: Several chemical compounds found in soybeans are effective agents for cancer prevention in humans. These include isoflavones and phytosterols, which also occur in other plants but are especially concentrated in soybeans. In rats and larger mammals such as cheetahs and sheep, isoflavones have been shown to inhibit the production of estrogen, and estrogen is known to promote certain types of cancer. Phytosterols may slow cholesterol absorption and thus have anticancer effects.
Researcher: Several chemical compounds found in soybeans are effective agents for cancer prevention in humans. These include isoflavones and phytosterols, which also occur in other plants but are especially concentrated in soybeans. In rats and larger mammals such as cheetahs and sheep, isoflavones have been shown to inhibit the production of estrogen, and estrogen is known to promote certain types of cancer. Phytosterols may slow cholesterol absorption and thus have anticancer effects.
Researcher: Several chemical compounds found in soybeans are effective agents for cancer prevention in humans. These include isoflavones and phytosterols, which also occur in other plants but are especially concentrated in soybeans. In rats and larger mammals such as cheetahs and sheep, isoflavones have been shown to inhibit the production of estrogen, and estrogen is known to promote certain types of cancer. Phytosterols may slow cholesterol absorption and thus have anticancer effects.
Researcher: Several chemical compounds found in soybeans are effective agents for cancer prevention in humans. These include isoflavones and phytosterols, which also occur in other plants but are especially concentrated in soybeans. In rats and larger mammals such as cheetahs and sheep, isoflavones have been shown to inhibit the production of estrogen, and estrogen is known to promote certain types of cancer. Phytosterols may slow cholesterol absorption and thus have anticancer effects.
Each of the following, if true, would reduce the support given by the researcher for the claim that several chemical compounds in soybeans are effective agents for human cancer prevention except:
The soybean derivatives used in most studies are the products of specialized processing techniques and are not yet widely available to consumers.
While phytosterols, which occur in high concentrations in soybeans, have been shown to decrease cholesterol absorption in the body, new evidence suggests that this decrease is not large enough to reduce susceptibility to cancer.
A study of people with high levels of blood cholesterol showed no significant reduction in cholesterol levels after switching to a soybean-rich diet.
Consumption of soybean products might lower blood cholesterol in animals, but a study of people whose major source of protein is soybeans rather than animal products showed blood cholesterol levels no lower than normal.
Preliminary studies have not shown isoflavones to have a significant effect on estrogen levels in humans.
Explanations
The researcher concludes several chemical compounds found in soybeans are effective agents for cancer prevention in humans, including isoflavones and phytosterols. I have no clue what these things are, but I don't have to in order to answer this question correctly.
So, what's the researcher's evidence?
They say that in rats and larger mammals, isoflavones have been shown to slow down estrogen production, and that estrogen is known to promote certain cancers. Okay, I have to grant these ideas.
They continue by saying phytosterols may slow cholesterol absorption, which is anti-cancerous. I have to grant this, too.
The question asks us to find the answer choice that doesn't weaken the argument. Four of them will cause at least some harm to the conclusion that the compounds discussed are anti-cancerous in humans. The correct answer will either strengthen the researcher's conclusion, or more likely, won't impact its chances of being true.
Let's take a look.
This is correct. Neither the anti-cancerous compounds coming from special processing nor their market availability have anything to do with whether or not they are effective at preventing cancer in humans. In other words, assume these two facts are true about the compounds, then ask yourself, "Would the compounds still be as effective as argued?" The answer's yes, they would.
Nope. This weakens the author's argument. If phytosterols don't cause a sufficient decrease in cholesterol absorption, then one of the researcher's premises can be called into question.
No again. This is a weakener. If people switch to a soybean-rich diet, but don't glean the cholesterol-absorption-reducing benefits, then one of our author's premises becomes questionable.
Nope. Similar to C, this is also a weakener. This contends that, while animals might glean anti-cancerous benefits from compounds in soybeans, they don't have similar effects in humans. This directly weakens the author's conclusion.
Nah. Somewhat like D, this would mean animals get anti-cancerous benefits from soybean products, but humans don't. This directly weakens the conclusion.
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