AAMC scored P/s #37

[tablerule]

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In this question, how is it determined that A was the correct answer over C? In the introductory paragraph it says "Research has also found that, on average, assimilation is associated with worse health." And the question stem says "Based on other results reported in the passage." Wouldn't these other results (ie research previously conducted) show that assimilation is associated with worse health, therefore Mexican immigrants are more assimilated?

I also thought that A was a plausible answer, based on the 4th paragraphs little blurb on SES, but the wording said it was only "partially" explained by SES. The explanation tells me why A is right, which I already could reason before seeing the answers, but not why C would be incorrect. How would you be able to distinguish this correct answer on the real test?

 

[lightng]

Bump. Was wondering if someone could help out with an answer to this question

 

[aldol16]

I remember this question and I think it turns on two subtleties that most people wouldn't really notice. First, it's asking you to base your answer off the "other results reported in the passage" and the section on assimilation and health wasn't a result that was reported in the passage. It served as some background information. The authors of the passage weren't testing that hypothesis.

Second, the purpose of the study was to figure out why bilingualism and assimilation correlate with health. In other words, it can't be assimilation itself that causes or explains poor health - there have to be certain mediating variables. So the point of the study was to discover some of those variables - e.g. if Hispanic families have strong family ties that directly cause better health, then assimilation would weaken those ties and lead to worse health.

 

[Thoth]

The passage actually specifically says in paragraph four that the health differences are partially explainable by SES but NOT by assimilation. You actually highlighted this.