Read the paragraph and choose the statement that is best supported by the information given in it.
“AIDS is a serious disease which slowly kills the infected person. It is caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). As the disease progresses, the immune system becomes weaker, making the infected person more likely to get infections and to bear stigma and discrimination.”
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → HIV-infected persons not only become weaker but also face stigma and discrimination.
A statement is supported by a paragraph when the paragraph says it or leads directly to it. The last sentence of the paragraph says that as the disease progresses the infected person’s immune system becomes weaker and the person is more likely to bear stigma and discrimination. Option (1) puts these two points together.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (2) AIDS is a global pandemic. — Incorrect. The paragraph says nothing about how widely the disease has spread.
Option (3) In the early years of HIV infection, the death rate from AIDS was low. — Incorrect. The paragraph gives no death rates for any period.
Option (4) One should take a balanced diet and check how many calories one burns daily. — Incorrect. Diet and calories are not mentioned in the paragraph at all.