Although genetic mutations in bacteria and viruses can lead to epidemics

[rezbipul]

Although genetic mutations in bacteria and viruses can lead to epidemics, some epidemics are caused by bacteria and viruses that have undergone no significant genetic change. In analyzing the latter, scientists have discovered the importance of social and ecological factors to epidemics. Poliomyelitis (poliomyelitis: n.小儿麻痹症, 急性骨髓灰白质炎), for example, emerged as an epidemic in the United States in the twentieth century; by then (by then: 到那时候), modern sanitation was able to delay exposure to polio (POLIOMYELITIS) until adolescence or adulthood, at which time polio infection produced paralysis. Previously, infection had occurred during infancy, when it typically provided lifelong immunity without paralysis. Thus, the hygiene that helped prevent typhoid epidemics indirectly fostered a paralytic polio epidemic. Another example is Lyme disease, which is caused by bacteria that are transmitted by deer ticks. It occurred only sporadically during the late nineteenth century but has recently become prevalent in parts of the United States, largely due to an increase in the deer population that occurred simultaneously with the growth of the suburbs and increased outdoor recreational activities in the deer’s habitat. Similarly, an outbreak of dengue hemorrhagic fever became an epidemic in Asia in the 1950’s because of ecological changes that caused Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that transmits the dengue virus, to proliferate. The stage is now set in the United States for a dengue epidemic because of the inadvertent introduction and wide dissemination of another mosquito, Aedes albopictus.
1. The passage suggests that a lack of modern sanitation would make which of the following most likely to occur?
(A) An outbreak of Lyme disease
(B) An outbreak of dengue hemorrhagic fever
(C) An epidemic of typhoid
(D) An epidemic of paralytic polio among infants（C）
(E) An epidemic of paralytic polio among adolescents and adults

Does anybody care to explain please?

[nisheeth]

answer lies in --
Previously, infection had occurred during infancy, when it typically provided lifelong immunity without paralysis. Thus, the hygiene that helped prevent typhoid epidemics indirectly fostered a paralytic polio epidemic.

[Jones1337ems]

"modern sanitation was able to delay exposure to polio (POLIOMYELITIS) until adolescence or adulthood, at which time polio infection produced paralysis. Previously, infection had occurred during infancy"

[Ancalagon The Black]

Just a second, where did you get this RC from because I remember that I did this exact same RC whilst preparing for the GMAT. Also, RC's in GMAT are tougher than in GRE. I do not think that they will ask this type of question in GRE...

[Pujols 05]

Originally Posted by Ancalagon The Black

Just a second, where did you get this RC from because I remember that I did this exact same RC whilst preparing for the GMAT. Also, RC's in GMAT are tougher than in GRE. I do not think that they will ask this type of question in GRE...

This is not a difficult RC, something like this could definitely show up on the GRE. I'm not sure that I agree with you that the GMAT has tougher RCs. The verbal section of the GRE is very demanding.