If Two Variables Appear to Be Causally Related, It Is

question 209

Multiple Choice

If two variables appear to be causally related, it is possible that:

• A)they are indeed related.
• B)the two variables appear related by sheer coincidence.
• C)causation may run in the opposite direction.
• D)an additional correlated factor may be the source of the causality.
• E)all of the reasons given are possible answers.

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Definitions:

Hydrogen Bonds

Weak bonds formed between a hydrogen atom in one molecule and a more electronegative atom, important in determining the structure of water and biomolecules.

Deoxyribose Sugar

A five-carbon sugar molecule that is a component of DNA molecules, lacking an oxygen atom compared to ribose.

Phosphoric Acid

A weak acid with the chemical formula H3PO4, widely used in detergents, fertilizers, and food processing.

Thymine

A pyrimidine nucleobase found in DNA, pairing with adenine, crucial for DNA stability and integrity.