bySayantani Barman Experta en el extranjero
Reading Passage Question:
A more serious hazard associated with canned food is botulism, the potentially fatal form of food poisoning that may result if the food is not heated for a sufficient period of time to a temperature high enough to kill all Clostridium botulinum (or C. botulinum) spores. C. botulinum is an anaerobic (an = without; aerobic = air) organism that thrives in the absence of oxygen, a condition nicely fulfilled by a sealed can. If a low-acid food (such as green beans or peas or potatoes) is incorrectly canned, botulinum spores not destroyed by high heat during the canning process may produce a toxin that can kill paralyzing muscles, including the heart muscle and the muscles that enable you to breathe.
To avoid potentially hazardous canned food, don’t buy, store, or use any can that is:
-Swollen: The swelling suggests that bacteria are growing inside and producing gas.
-Damaged, rusted, or deeply dented along the seam: A break in the can permits air to enter and may promote the growth of organisms other than C. botulinum.
‘A more serious hazard associated with canned food’’ is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 7 comprehension questions.
The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analysing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Questions and Solutions
- What two characteristics should customers buying food packaged in metal cans for consumption avoid?
(A) Heated and lacking in oxygen
(B) Swollen and damaged
(C) Rusted and heated
(D) Swollen and boiled
(E) Exposed to oxygen and damaged
Answer: B
Explanation: Customers should avoid the food packages which are sold in metal cans that are swollen or damaged. They might have some microorganisms like botulinum which is harmful to the human body. Hence swollen and damaged cans should be avoided.
- The bulleted points in this passage play what role?
(A) They provide anecdotal evidence to support the main paragraph.
(B) They contradict the main paragraph.
(C) They provide an alternative to the main paragraph.
(D) They present the same evidence as what’s in the main paragraph.
(E) They provide a helpful list of characteristics to look for that is drawn from the main paragraph.
Answer: E
Explanation: The bulleted points explain the things which should be remembered before buying any cans or steel food packages. Precautions and safety measures are clearly written. So that the person buying these damaged cans can be made aware of this. E is the correct answer.
- Which of the following statements most accurately captures the main point of the passage?
(A) Botulism is a serious health hazard, but there are steps you can take to avoid the risk of mistakenly consuming it.
(B) Food must be heated to a high enough temperature to kill botulism spores.
(C) Botulism is one of the greatest threats facing our collective health today.
(D) Canned food is deadly and should be avoided.
(E) Never buy a can that is swollen.
Answer: A
Explanation: The author has written this article to spread awareness about botulism and its effects. It is a serious hazard, and the steps that are needed to avoid it are also given at the end of the passage. Only option A matches the pre-thinking, and the rest of the options are partially correct.
- Use the information in the passage to choose the word that most likely means something close to being without or lacking water.
(A) By hydration
(B) Unhydration
(C) Anhydration
(D) Hydrationless
(E) Innohydration
Answer: C
Explanation: Anhydration means the process of removing water from a substance or compound. It is most likely to be close to the information in the passage which means close to lacking water. Hence C is the correct answer. Rest of the words don't make proper sense.
- Which of the following would be the best substitute for the word toxic as used in the passage?
(A) Destabilizer
(B) Germ
(C) Adhesive
(D) Deferral
(E) Poison
Answer: E
Explanation: Toxic usually refers to a substance which is of a chemical nature that is harmful to health. Lethal if consumed or otherwise enters the body in sufficient quantities. It can also be replaced by the word poison as it resembles it to some extent. E is the correct answer.
- Based on the information in this passage, what would be the safest approach to consuming food in cans?
(A) Do not consume food in cans.
(B) Boil all food packaged in cans before consuming it.
(C) Carefully check cans for swelling, damage, rust or deep dents, and do not consumer the food therein if you notice any of these.
(D) Do not consume canned low-acid foods such as potatoes.
(E) There’s no way to detect botulism, so all you can do is hope you don’t happen upon a can that contains it.
Answer: C
Explanation: We should be careful while buying metal cans. We have to check for the damage, rust of any swelling or dents in the can. These should not be present in the can. These are the signs which will help to prevent the effect of botulism to a greater extent. C is the correct answer.
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