Autism and Vaccines Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Are a Range of Psychological Conditions

question 126

Multiple Choice

Autism and Vaccines
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a range of psychological conditions characterized by challenges with social interaction, behavior, speech, and nonverbal communication. While there is no general consensus among medical professionals about the underlying causes of ASD, theories range from genetic inheritance to environmental factors.
One of the most controversial theories to have emerged in recent times is that ASD could be caused by the MMR [mumps, measles, rubella] vaccine that was first developed in the 1960s. The vaccine is a mixture of three live viruses and is administered via injection to children when they are one year old. By the late 1990s, this vaccination had led to the near-eradication of measles in countries that employed widespread inoculation. However, a combination of spurious scientific data and alarmist media attention led to an entirely preventable resurgence in measles cases in the early 21^st century.
The first claims of a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism were made in 1998, when an article in The Lancet, a respected British medical journal, reported on eight cases of autism that could possibly be traced back to the administration of an MMR vaccine.
An onslaught of media coverage followed the publication of this article. The popular press quickly seized upon this story; in 2002, over 1200 articles were written about the link between MMR vaccines and ASD. Less than 30% of these articles, however, mentioned that an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence suggested that these vaccinations were completely safe.
Question: What is the best summary of the passage?

• A)Autism Spectrum Disorder was found to be linked to the MMR vaccine in the late 1990s. Today, most of the scientific community agrees that this link does exist.
• B)In 1998, The Lancet published an article suggesting that eight cases of autism could be linked directly to the MMR vaccine. As a result, the number of children getting the MMR vaccine dropped significantly.
• C)ASD is a condition characterized by difficulties with various aspects of socialization. Some scientists thought that they found a link between ASD and the MMR vaccine, but overwhelming scientific evidence shows that the vaccine is safe.
• D)ASD describes psychological conditions characterized by abnormalities in social interaction, behavior, interests, and communication. Scientists cannot agree on its causes.

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Definitions:

Overshooting

Exceeding a target or expected outcome, often referring to economic indicators or personal goals.

Undershooting

The failure to achieve a targeted goal or objective, often resulting in outcomes that fall short of expectations.

Reflecting Skills

Techniques used in communication that involve mirroring the content or emotions of what another person has said to show understanding and empathy.

Summarizing

The practice of briefly stating the main points of a piece of writing, conversation, or presentation in a concise form.