Evaluate the Following Argument in Accordance with the Criteria Discussed

question 147

Short Answer

Evaluate the following argument in accordance with the criteria discussed in the text.
Do potassium supplements lower blood pressure? Evidence that they might comes from a recent experiment in which male volunteers with high systolic blood pressure were randomly divided into four groups. Three of the groups were given daily supplements containing varying amounts of potassium (500, 100, and 1500 mgs). Men in the fourth group were not given potassium supplements. The men were free otherwise to eat what they wanted. It was found that the higher the potassium dose, the lower the average blood pressure. [This is a fictitious experiment.]

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Definitions:

Desertification

The degradation of once-fertile land into nonproductive desert; caused partly by soil erosion, deforestation, and overgrazing by domestic animals.

Deserts

Arid regions with extremely low rainfall, supporting limited plant and animal life, and characterized by harsh conditions such as high temperatures and low humidity.

Primary Consumers

Organisms that directly consume producers such as plants or algae, usually herbivores.

Cyanobacteria

Photosynthetic, bacteria-like organisms that can live in a wide range of habitats, known for their ability to produce oxygen in a process similar to plants.