Lactose Intolerance Lactose Intolerance Is the Inability to Digest a Sugar Called

question 95

Multiple Choice

Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest a sugar called lactose in milk and other dairy products. Adults in most of the world are lactose intolerant, although infants are not. This is because many adults lack an enzyme known as lactase. Lactase, which can be found in cells in the intestine, is the enzyme that breaks down lactose.
Many individuals lose the ability to synthesize lactase after age six. However, not everyone does. Whether or not the body continues to produce lactase often depends on ethnicity. While only 5-15% of adults of European descent cannot digest lactose, 80-90% of adults of African and Asian descent are lactose intolerant. Research has shown that people of northern European ancestry contain a genetic mutation that allows the secretion of lactase in adulthood.
The main symptom of lactose intolerance is gastrointestinal upset. Lactose intolerant people may experience diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, gas, and vomiting after consuming lactose-containing foods and beverages. Although there has been some research into gene therapy as a treatment for lactose intolerance, the current best treatment is either ingesting lactase supplements when consuming dairy products or simply avoiding foods containing lactose altogether.
Question: What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?

• A)To entertain readers with a humorous story about milk.
• B)To inform readers about a condition known as lactose intolerance.
• C)To manipulate readers with biased information about milk.
• D)To persuade readers not to drink so much milk.

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Definitions:

Coefficients Of Correlation

Numerical indices that represent the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two variables.

Negative Linear Relationship

A relationship between two variables where as the value of one variable increases, the value of the second variable decreases, forming a straight line in a graphical representation.

Variables Of Interest

Specific items or characteristics that researchers aim to study, measure or manipulate within a study.

Confidence Interval

A range of values, derived from sample statistics, that is likely to contain the value of an unknown population parameter with a specified level of confidence.