GWD-11-12

Q12:

Which of the following most logically
completes the argument?

 The irradiation of food kills bacteria and
thus retards spoilage.  However, it also
lowers the nutritional value of many foods. 
For example, irradiation destroys a significant percentage of whatever
vitamin B1 a food may contain.  Proponents
of irradiation point out that irradiation is no worse in this respect than
cooking.  However, this fact is either
beside the point, since much irradiated food is eaten raw, or else misleading,
since _______.
                

1. many of
        the proponents of irradiation are food distributors who gain from food’s
        having a longer shelf life
2. it is
        clear that killing bacteria that may be present on food is not the only
        effect that irradiation has
3. cooking is
        usually the final step in preparing food for consumption, whereas
        irradiation serves to ensure a longer shelf life for perishable foods
4. certain
        kinds of cooking are, in fact, even more destructive of vitamin B1 than
        carefully controlled irradiation is
5. for food
        that is both irradiated and cooked, the reduction of vitamin B1 associated
        with either process individually is compounded