Self-study
The Kuna, a people native to several Panamanian islands, generally have a low incidence of high blood pressure. But Kuna who have moved to the Panamanian mainland do not have a low incidence of high blood pressure. Kuna who live on the islands, unlike those who live on the mainland, typically drink several cups of cocoa a day. This cocoa is minimally processed and thus high in flavonoids.
7.
Of the following, which one is most strongly supported by the information above?
a
Foods high in flavonoids are not readily available on the Panamanian mainland.
We don’t know what kinds of foods are accessible on the mainland. It is possible that the cocoa is readily available and Kuna on the mainland choose not to drink it.
b
Kuna who live on the islands drink cocoa because they believe that it is beneficial to their health.
We don’t know what the Kuna believe about the cocoa. It is possible that the Kuna drink the cocoa for other reasons, possibly because it tastes good.
c
The Kuna have a genetic predisposition to low blood pressure.
We can’t say that the Kuna are genetically predisposed to low incidence of high blood pressure. In the stimulus, we are told that Kuna who live on the mainland do not have low incidence of high blood pressure.
d
Kuna who live on the Panamanian mainland generally have higher blood pressure than other people who live on the mainland.
We don’t know anything about other people who may live on the Panamanian mainland. The stimulus is limited to the Kuna who either live on the Panamanian mainland or Panamanian islands.
e
Drinking several cups of flavonoid-rich cocoa per day tends to prevent high blood pressure.
It is likely that the cocoa drink tends to cause low incidence of high blood pressure for Kuna living on Panamanian islands. This would explain the difference in incident between Kuna living on the mainland and Kuna living on the islands.