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 _______.
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 _______.
A.many of the proponents of irradiation are food distributors who gain from food’s having a longer shelf life
B.it is clear that killing bacteria that may be present on food is not the only effect that irradiation has
C.cooking is usually the final step in preparing food for consumption, whereas irradiation serves to ensure a longer shelf life for perishable foods
D.certain kinds of cooking are, in fact, even more destructive of vitamin B1 than carefully controlled irradiation is
E.for food that is both irradiated and cooked, the reduction of vitamin B1 associated with either process individually is compounded
Reasoning Which option most logically completes the argument? For the proponents’ claim to be misleading it needs to be suggesting something about irradiation that is false. By stating that irradiation destroys no more B1 than cooking does, the proponent seems to be suggesting that any food that is going to be cooked might as well be irradiated because it will end up with the same amount of B1 either way. But if the eff ects of radiation and cooking combine to destroy more B1 than cooking or irradiation alone would, then the proponents’ claim suggests something that is false. A This might make the assurances of the proponents less credible but it does not make their claim misleading. B Nothing about the proponents claim suggests that the only eff ect irradiation has is to kill bacteria. C The fact that cooking and irradiation have diff erent purposes does not indicate that the proponents’ claim suggests something that is false. D If anything, this strengthens the proponents’ point by minimizing the relative damage caused by irradiation. E Correct. This option most logically completes the argument.