Even though the terms taste aversion and taste avoidance are sometimes...
Even though the terms taste aversion and taste avoidance are sometimes used interchangeably, there exists enough evidence to conclude that these two phenomena are likely not always related to each other. Research shows that taste aversion occurs when the consumption of a substance is followed by an unpleasant physical experience, normally nausea, but that no following repulsive or discomforting experience is necessary for the establishment of taste avoidance. Moreover, treatments that alleviate or prevent nausea do not impact the development or expression of taste avoidance, but they interfere with both the establishment and expression of taste aversion.
Which of the following statements can be concluded on the basis of the information given in the above passage?
Argument Analysis
Pre-Thinking
Conclusion Clarification
The author states that that (Even though the terms taste aversion and taste avoidance are sometimes used interchangeably,) there exists enough evidence to conclude that these two phenomena are likely not related to each other always.
Pre-Thinking Approach
In order to see what can be concluded on the basis of the information given in the passage, we need to observe all the given facts and see if the information in the passage is true, what must also be true.
Fact#1 – Research shows that taste aversion occurs when the consumption of a substance is followed by an unpleasant physical experience, normally nausea, but that no following repulsive or discomforting experience is necessary for the establishment of taste avoidance.
Conclusion 1: Since the above fact talks about the circumstance the two conditions develop, we can conclude that:
- The circumstances leading up to taste avoidance and taste aversion are not always the same.
Fact#2 – Moreover, treatments that alleviate or prevent nausea do not impact the development or expression of taste avoidance, but they interfere with both the establishment and expression of taste aversion.
Conclusion 2: The second facts talks about the impact of a kind of treatments on the two conditions. Such treatments fail to have any impact on either the development or expression of taste avoidance but do certainly impact both areas of taster aversion. Accordingly, we can conclude that:
- Medications for the alleviation of nausea do not have the same impact on taste avoidance as they do on taste aversion.
With this pre-thinking in mind, let’s evaluate the answer choices.
Answer Choices
A
The consumption of the food item is the cause of the following nausea that leads to the development of taste aversion.
Incorrect - No information given
The passage states when the consumption of a food is followed by nausea, taste aversion is developed. This information does not give us any basis to conclude that it is the food that leads to the nausea in such cases; for instance, it is possible that the nausea is due to a viral infection and it is a mere coincidence that the consumption of the food happened before it.
B
The definitions of taste avoidance and taste aversion need to be revised to facilitate a clearer understanding of the concepts.
Incorrect - No information given
The passage states that these terms are used interchangeably sometimes. This statement does not indicate whether the usage is because of the confusion in the definitions or that the definitions are absolutely perfect but the understanding, and hence the usage, isn’t.
C
The development of taste aversion is faster for new food items that generate an unpleasant reaction on their first-time consumption than for nausea- causing foods that have been previously consumed without any unpleasant physical response.
Incorrect - No information given
Firstly, we do not have any basis to conclude that it is the food item that causes an unpleasant reaction. Secondly, there is no information given to make an estimate about the rate of development of taste aversion in different situations.
D
The establishment or expression of taste aversion cannot be accompanied by the development of expression of taste avoidance.
Incorrect - No information given
The passage states that these two phenomena are probably not always related and that the conditions present at the time of their development are not necessarily the same but that does not mean that they cannot developed or expressed at the same time.
E
If a nausea-preventing medicine is administered in the time between the consumption of food and the following nausea, chances are that the development of taste aversion will be hindered.
Correct
This choice can be derived on the basis of fact number 2 stated in the pre-thinking analysis. The fact that such medication “interferes” with the establishment of taste aversion gives us a basis to conclude this statement.