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MGMAT CAT 5 CR Question
Nov1907
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Celiac disease results from an inability of the digestive tract, specifically the small intestine, to absorb gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and certain other grains. The body's immune system attacks the gluten as if the protein were a harmful pathogen, often resulting in serious damage to the intestinal lining. People who suffer from celiac disease must eliminate gluten from their diets. Symptoms of the disease include abdominal cramps, bloating, and anemia.

If the statements above are true, which of the following assertions can be made on the basis of them?
(A) Anyone who suffers from celiac disease will experience anemia.
(B) Eliminating gluten from one's diet will cure celiac disease.
(C) People experiencing abdominal cramps, bloating, and anemia have celiac disease.
(D) Gluten is found only in grains.
(E) The human body cannot always recognize harmless substances.

I have a question on this MGMAT Cat 5 question. I understood the opening sentence "Celiac disease results from an inability of the digestive tract" to mean that the celiac disease is caused by the inability to absorb Gluten. Hence the celiac disease could be eliminated if the person did not consume Gluten and chose (B). Is it intended to mean that the celiac disease results in the inability of the body to absorb Gluten? Wuld appreciate it if someone could reply to this question. Thanks.
Stacey Koprince
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The problem with B is that we don't know whether the disease is something that, once you get it, you have it forever even if you do eliminate gluten from your diet. For instance, smoking can cause cancer. If I smoke, get cancer, and then stop smoking, will that cure the cancer?

Eliminating gluten MAY work, but it may not - perhaps the damage is already done and now I will suffer from the disease even if I stop eating gluten.
pravsr
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I chose E.
My reasoning:
since body's immune system attacks the gluten as if the protein were a harmful pathogen is given in the argument, the human body cannot always recognize harmless substances
Stacey Koprince
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Joined: 06 Mar 2007
Posts: 2456
Location: San Francisco
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Good! Yes, E is right and your reasoning is correct.
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