One of the most dangerous drugs for pregnant women to consume is alcohol. Because alcohol is delivered quickly into the blood and passes quickly into the tissues and membranes, the human fetus is particularly vulnerable to its effects. In fact, the negative effects on a fetus are so pronounced that babies born after exposure to alcohol are said to be suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome.
As a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol is passed into her bloodstream almost simultaneously. Moreover, because the bloodstream of the fetus is inextricably tied to that of the mother, the alcohol passes directly into the bloodstream of the fetus as well. And, what is more, the concentration of alcohol in the fetus is exactly the same as in the mother. For the mother, this concentration is not a problem because her liver can remove one ounce of alcohol from her system per hour. However, the fetus liver is not completely developed. The rate at which it is able to eliminate the alcohol from the blood of the fetus is much slower. Eventually, the alcohol will be returned to the mother's system by passing across the placenta, but this process is slow. By the time this takes place, major neurological damage may have
already occurred.
Research has shown that as little as one drink of alcohol can produce significant, irreversible damage to the fetus. Babies who are born after exposure to alcohol generally exhibit facial distortion, inability to concentrate and difficulty in remembering. Simply speaking, it is imperative that pregnant women avoid alcohol.
1. According to the information in the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
(A) There is no time lag in passing of alcohol from the mother to the fetus
(B) The fetus' liver is unable to keep up with the workings of the mothers' liver
(C) The alcohol is eventually passed back from the fetus to the mother
(D) Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause irreversible damages to the fetus
(E) Alcohol passes from the mother to the fetus through the placenta
Why is E not the answer?
Source: Aristotle RC Grail
OA: A
As a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol is passed into her bloodstream almost simultaneously. Moreover, because the bloodstream of the fetus is inextricably tied to that of the mother, the alcohol passes directly into the bloodstream of the fetus as well. And, what is more, the concentration of alcohol in the fetus is exactly the same as in the mother. For the mother, this concentration is not a problem because her liver can remove one ounce of alcohol from her system per hour. However, the fetus liver is not completely developed. The rate at which it is able to eliminate the alcohol from the blood of the fetus is much slower. Eventually, the alcohol will be returned to the mother's system by passing across the placenta, but this process is slow. By the time this takes place, major neurological damage may have
already occurred.
Research has shown that as little as one drink of alcohol can produce significant, irreversible damage to the fetus. Babies who are born after exposure to alcohol generally exhibit facial distortion, inability to concentrate and difficulty in remembering. Simply speaking, it is imperative that pregnant women avoid alcohol.
1. According to the information in the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
(A) There is no time lag in passing of alcohol from the mother to the fetus
(B) The fetus' liver is unable to keep up with the workings of the mothers' liver
(C) The alcohol is eventually passed back from the fetus to the mother
(D) Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause irreversible damages to the fetus
(E) Alcohol passes from the mother to the fetus through the placenta
Why is E not the answer?
Source: Aristotle RC Grail
OA: A
