Video Transcript
The graph provided shows the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to hours of exercise. Which of the following best explains the trend shown?
This question is asking us to determine the trend shown in the data in the graph and then choose the answer choice that best explains the trend we saw. Because of the word “best”, we know that more than one answer may be correct. And we’re looking for the one that is the most correct. Since the question tells me that this graph shows the risk of developing cardiovascular disease versus hours of exercise, I’m gonna go ahead and add a title to my graph.
When determining the trend of a graph, I like to use the phrase “As 𝑥 changes like this, 𝑦 changes like that.” In other words, as hours of exercise increase, the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease decreases. Now, we’re ready to examine our answer choices.
As hours of exercise increase, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease increases. This answer is incorrect. We’ve learned from the graph that as hours of exercise increase, that the risk of developing cardiovascular disease actually decreases.
There’s no link between the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease and the hours of exercise taken. We were able to see a very clear correlation in our graph, so this choice is also incorrect.
As hours of exercise decrease, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease decreases. From our graph, we can see that as the hours of exercise decrease, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease would actually increase. This choice is also incorrect.
As hours of exercise increase, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease decreases. This statement almost exactly matches the trend statement that we came up with on our own. So, this is the statement that best explains the trend shown.
Which of the following explains the link between hours of exercise and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease?
This question is asking us to choose the statement that best explains why we observe the trend that we observed earlier. Which was “as hours of exercise increase, risk of cardiovascular disease decreases.”
Exercising more helps improve mental health and social well-being. While this statement may be factually true, it’s not relevant to the data presented in the graph.
Next, we read “Exercising more burns protein, preventing it from building up in blood vessels.” Proteins are not burned by exercise. If anything, proteins are built into new muscle during exercise. Protein is also not known to build up in blood vessels. And protein in your blood does not lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This statement is not correct.
Exercising more burns fat, preventing it from building up in blood vessels. This statement makes sense. The buildup of unhealthy fat in blood vessels can lead to fatty deposits. And these deposits can cause cardiovascular disease.
Exercising more helps increase fat storage in other organs, preventing it from building up in blood vessels. We know that exercising more does not increase fat storage. On the contrary, exercise burns fat. This choice doesn’t make sense.
The statement that best explains the link between hours of exercise and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease is “Exercising more burns fat, preventing it from building up in blood vessels.”
Which of the following statements about the data is correct for this question?
We’re being asked to evaluate several statements about the data we see in the graph and determine which of the choices is actually correct.
The relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with one hour of exercise a week is equal to the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with two hours of exercise per week. Reading from the graph, the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with one hour of exercise a week is equal to four. While the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with two hours of exercise a week is equal to 2.5. Since four is definitely not equal to 2.5, this statement is false.
The relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with five hours of exercise per week is equal to the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with six hours of exercise a week. Reading from the graph, with five hours of exercise per week, your relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease is equal to one. While with six hours of exercise per week, the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease is also equal to one. Since these two values are equal, this statement is true.
The relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with six hours of exercise a week is greater than the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with four hours of exercise a week. In the graph, we see that with six hours of exercise per week, the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease is equal to one. While with four hours of exercise a week, the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease is equal to 1.5. Since one is not greater than 1.5, this statement is false.
The relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with five hours of exercise a week is less than the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with seven plus hours of exercise a week. From the graph, we can see that the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with five hours of exercise a week is equal to one. While the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with seven or more hours of exercise a week is equal to 0.5. Since one is not less than 0.5, this statement is also false.
The statement about the data that is correct is that the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with five hours of exercise a week is equal to the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease with six hours of exercise a week.
