Question

A person can develop or outgrow asthma at any age. In children under ten, asthma is twice as likely to develop in boys. Boys are less likely than girls to outgrow asthma, yet by adolescence the percentage of boys with asthma is about the same as the percentage of girls with asthma because a large number of girls develop asthma in early adolescence. Assuming the truth of the passage, one can conclude from it that the number of adolescent boys with asthma is approximately equal to the number of adolescent girls with asthma, if one also knows that (A) a tendency toward asthma is often inherited (B) children who develop asthma before two years of age are unlikely to outgrow it (C) there are approximately equal numbers of adolescent boys and adolescent girls in the population (D) the development of asthma in childhood is not closely related to climate or environment (E) the percentage of adults with asthma is lower than the percentage of adolescents with asthma

Short answer

The answer is (C).

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Conclusion

The passage concludes that by adolescence, the percentage of boys with asthma is about equal to that of girls due to a large number of girls developing asthma in early adolescence. This means the total number of adolescent boys with asthma equals the total number of adolescent girls with asthma given some additional condition.

Analyze the Assumptions

The passage suggests a transition where the number of girls developing asthma increases, leading to an equalization in percentage terms. To equate the total numbers, there must be approximately equal numbers of boys and girls in the population.

Evaluate the Options

Select which option supports the conclusion that the number of adolescent boys with asthma is approximately the same as that of girls. Options (A), (B), (D), and (E) relate to factors that do not address the equal number demographic aspect, while option (C) implies an equal population size, which supports equal numbers of each gender with asthma.

Conclusion

Given the passage, the most logical way to conclude that the number of adolescent boys with asthma and girls with asthma is approximately equal requires knowing that there are roughly equal numbers of boys and girls. Thus, option (C) is the answer.

Key concepts

Asthma Development

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways in our lungs, making them inflamed and narrow. Many factors contribute to the development of asthma. It can occur at any age, and it's often related to genetic and environmental influences.

For children under the age of ten, asthma is twice as likely to develop in boys compared to girls. The reasons behind this are not entirely clear but may include:

• Genetic factors, as asthma can run in families.
• Higher sensitivity to allergens in boys.

However, boys are less likely to outgrow asthma once developed. Despite this, by adolescence, the gap closes as more girls develop asthma during their early teenage years.

Gender Differences in Health

There are notable gender differences present in many health conditions, and asthma is no exception. Understanding these differences is crucial in developing targeted treatment and prevention strategies.

In childhood, boys are more prone to develop asthma compared to girls. However, as children transition into adolescence, this disparity changes. The development of asthma in girls increases during early teens, resulting in equal prevalence between genders by adolescence.

This shift points to the impact of puberty and hormonal changes, which might affect immune functions differently in boys and girls. Recognizing such factors can aid in personalized healthcare approaches.

Adolescent Health

Adolescence is a period of remarkable physical, emotional, and physiological changes. Health conditions can evolve significantly during this stage. Asthma serves as an example of how health patterns shift.

In adolescence, the rate of new asthma cases in girls rises, potentially balancing out earlier differences seen in childhood. This change suggests that hormonal changes could influence the likelihood of developing or worsening asthma.

Maintaining adolescent health requires awareness of these transitions. Early intervention and effective management can reduce the impact of asthma on daily life, leading to better long-term health outcomes.

Population Distribution Hypothesis

The population distribution hypothesis is a key aspect when examining the balance of asthma prevalence between adolescent boys and girls. This hypothesis suggests that the number of boys and girls, on average, is equal in a given population.

If boys and girls are present in nearly equal numbers, and given the equalization of asthma rates by adolescence, it leads to the conclusion that a similar number of boys and girls have asthma. The option (C) in the original exercise hinges on this idea, essential to reaching a logical conclusion regarding asthma distribution.

Understanding this hypothesis helps clarify assumptions in logical reasoning and is useful in many statistical and health studies.