Certain microbes that are sometimes present on the skin of raw fruit can harm people if ingested in large numbers....
GMAT Critical Reasoning : (CR) Questions
Certain microbes that are sometimes present on the skin of raw fruit can harm people if ingested in large numbers. Washing fruit in cold running water reduces the number of these microbes to levels where there are too few to harm anyone who ingests them. In countries where these microbes have been found on raw fruit, officials advise that raw fruit should be washed just before it is eaten, since ________.
Which of the following, if true, most logically completes the passage below?
Passage Analysis:
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Certain microbes that are sometimes present on the skin of raw fruit can harm people if ingested in large numbers. |
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| Washing fruit in cold running water reduces the number of these microbes to levels where there are too few to harm anyone who ingests them. |
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| In countries where these microbes have been found on raw fruit, officials advise that raw fruit should be washed just before it is eaten, since ______. |
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Argument Flow:
"We start with a problem (harmful microbes on fruit), then get a solution (washing reduces microbes to safe levels), and finally learn about official recommendations (wash just before eating). The blank needs to explain WHY the timing matters."
Main Conclusion:
"Officials advise washing fruit just before eating for a reason we need to determine"
Logical Structure:
"The premises establish that washing works to make fruit safe, and officials recommend specific timing. We need to connect these facts to explain why the 'just before eating' timing is crucial - likely because something happens between washing and eating that could make the fruit unsafe again."
Prethinking:
Question type:
Logically Completes - We need to find a statement that logically fills in the blank to complete the argument's reasoning about why officials recommend washing fruit just before eating it.
Precision of Claims
The passage makes specific claims about timing (just before eating), effectiveness (cold water reduces microbes to safe levels), and scope (countries where these microbes are found). The completion must respect these precise conditions.
Strategy
We need to identify why the timing of 'just before eating' is crucial. The passage establishes that washing works to reduce microbes to safe levels, but we need to explain why officials specifically recommend doing it right before consumption rather than at any other time. This suggests there's something about the timing that's important for maintaining the effectiveness of washing.