Exam 4: HESI-A2-Reading

Hangovers Veisalgia, more commonly known as a hangover, is the name for the range of unpleasant physical effects that occur following the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The most commonly experienced effects include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, headache, thirst, and lethargy. The degree of the hangover's severity is determined by factors occurring both before and after the alcohol is metabolized. The main pre-metabolic cause of veisalgia is the quantity of alcohol consumed. Binge drinking is one of the most notorious contributors to hangovers. Empirical research suggests that even an increase in consumption from four to six beers can result in twice the susceptibility to end up with a hangover. Another pre-consumption factor that contributes to hangovers is the number of congeners present in the alcohol. Congeners are chemical substances produced during the fermentation process that give the alcohol color, taste, and aroma. Recent studies have shown that alcohol with a high congener content, such as bourbon (which is brown), is three times as likely to cause a hangover as the same amount of a low-congener alcohol, such as vodka (which is clear). Post-metabolic causes of veisalgia have less to do with the amount or kind of alcohol consumed and more to do with genetics. One of the major post-metabolic causes of veisalgia is the production of acetaldehyde. During the initial stages of metabolization, the liver produces an enzyme known as alcohol dehydrogenase. This enzyme works to convert the ethanol present in alcohol into the compound acetaldehyde. Studies have shown that individuals who lack this enzyme-and thus also lack the ability to break down ethanol in the liver-have a much higher rate of hangover occurrence, and experience more immediate and more severe hangover symptoms. Question: Which detail about binge drinking is included in the passage?

The Liver The liver is one of the largest and most vital organs in the body. It is located on the right side of the body and is protected by the rib cage. The liver performs many important jobs, including breaking down nutrients, removing toxins, and destroying damaged blood cells. The liver's main function is to filter blood. Blood travels to the liver from the digestive tract. The liver processes this blood, removing toxins and metabolizing nutrients. The liver also secretes bile during this process. Bile is stored in the gallbladder and released into the large intestine. Bile aids in the digestion of fats. The liver also makes proteins necessary for blood clotting, removes worn-out blood cells, helps to regulate blood sugar levels, and stores vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12. There are several diseases that can affect the liver. Because the liver performs so many important functions in the body, liver problems can be life-threatening. Hepatitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the liver. Left untreated, certain types of hepatitis can be fatal. Cirrhosis is another dangerous liver condition. Cirrhosis develops when healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue. This is most often caused by long-term alcohol abuse. Cirrhosis can cause swelling, internal bleeding, and eventually, liver failure. The only cure for cirrhosis is a full liver transplant. Which detail supports the idea that long-term alcohol abuse could be dangerous?

Mercury in Fish Mercury is a highly toxic metal found in neon signs, fluorescent lights, older thermometers, and certain kinds of telescopes. It can also be found in something that many people eat on a regular basis: fish. The mercury we might find in a can of tuna is most likely an indirect result of the coal industry. Mercury, which is naturally found in coal, is released into the air when coal is burned. It finds its way into waterways via mercury-laced rain. Mercury accumulates in certain kinds of fish through a process called biomagnification. Biomagnification occurs when a substance enters the food chain in small amounts at the very bottom and then increases in concentration in animals higher up on the food chain. Once a fish eats another creature containing mercury, the mercury does not leave that fish's body but instead is stored in fat. Therefore, the mercury continually accumulates as more mercury-contaminated fish are eaten. Despite the toxicity of mercury and the widespread nature of fish contamination, there is no need for the public to be overly apprehensive. Many popular fish, such as salmon, catfish, or tilapia, are generally safe to eat. Other fish, especially tuna and grouper, should only be eaten in moderation. Young children and pregnant women should be especially cautious about how many servings of mercury-contaminated fish they have per week. It is recommended that people in these groups not eat more than 2 servings of mercury-contaminated fish per week. Fish with the highest levels of mercury include shark, swordfish, and king mackerel. All people should avoid eating large amounts of these kinds of fish, and no one should eat these fish more frequently than once a month. Why does the author include the detail regarding the coal industry in the first paragraph?

Concussions Concussions are brain injuries that occur when a person receives a blow to the head, face, or neck. Although most people who suffer a concussion experience initial bouts of dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness, these symptoms often disappear after a few days. The long-term effects of concussions, however, are less understood and far more severe. Recent studies suggest that people who suffer multiple concussions are at significant risk for developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disorder that causes a variety of dangerous mental and emotional problems to arise weeks, months, or even years after the initial injury. These psychological problems can include depression, anxiety, memory loss, inability to concentrate, and aggression. In extreme cases, people suffering from CTE have even committed suicide or homicide. The majority of people who develop these issues are athletes who participate in popular high-impact sports, especially football. Improvements in diagnostic technology have provided substantial evidence to link severe-and often fatal-psychological disorders to the head injuries players receive while on the field. Recent autopsies performed on the brains of football players who have committed suicide have shown advanced cases of CTE in every single victim. In response to the growing understanding of this danger, the National Football League (NFL) has revised its safety regulations. There is hope that these new regulations, coupled with advances in helmet design, will reduce the number of concussions player endure, and thus curb the number of CTE cases. Efforts by the NFL and other professional sports leagues are certainly laudable. However, new regulations at the professional level cannot protect amateur players, especially young people. Fatal cases of CTE have been reported in victims as young as 21. With appropriate equipment and form, tackling need not be dangerous. Proper tackling form-using the arms and shoulders to aim for a player's midsection rather than leading with the top of the head-should be taught at an early age. Youth, high school, and college leagues should also adopt safety rules even more stringent than the NFL's. Question: Which supporting detail is an example of an opinion, rather than factual information?

Placebos A placebo is any kind of drug, procedure, or treatment that does not have legitimate medicinal properties. Placebos do not contain any sort of active ingredient meant to treat an illness or injury. Placebo pills, for example, might be made out of sugar or corn starch. However, even though placebos contain no medicine whatsoever, people who take them often experience reactions that cannot possibly be triggered by the substances in the pills themselves. This is known as the placebo effect. In one study of the placebo effect, volunteers were given a starch pill and told that it was a stimulant similar to caffeine. These volunteers reported feeling more alert and slightly jittery. They also showed an increased heart rate and a spike in blood pressure. Researchers then gave the exact same placebo pill to a different group of people, this time telling them that it was a depressant. The second group of participants reported feeling drowsy and sluggish, and showed a reduced heart rate and lowered blood pressure. Researchers use placebos to evaluate the effectiveness and possible side effects of new drugs. For example, during a study for a drug to treat depression, half of the participants might be given the actual drug while the other half are given a placebo. None of the participants know whether or not they are taking the real drug or the placebo. Researchers can then compare the results between the two groups to determine whether or not the drug produces the desired results and examine the side effects. What is the primary purpose of this passage?

Guide dogs Guide dogs are service animals that are specially trained to help visually impaired people. Most guide dogs are Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, or German Shepherds, breeds known for their intelligence, gentleness, and friendliness. Puppies that might become guide dogs are monitored from a very young age by trainers. Puppies that demonstrate a good temperament and willingness to learn begin their training at about 16 months of age. Puppies that have been selected for training live with their trainer's family for about a year. Trainers teach the puppies to walk in straight lines, avoid obstacles, and stop at curbs. The dog learns how to focus on the owner instead of distractions, such as food, toys, or other animals. Guide dogs learn how to obey their owners, but also when to refuse their owner's commands when it might lead to danger, such as crossing a busy street. When the dog is full-grown, the trainer brings it in for a final assessment. If the dog passes the test, it is placed with a visually impaired person in need of a service animal. If the dog fails the assessment, however, it often remains as a pet with the trainer's family. Although trainers might be sad to part with the dog that they have bonded with, they know that their former charge has become an invaluable resource for someone in need. What is the best meaning of the phrase "visually impaired," found in paragraph 3?  

Basketball Ankle Injury Treatments Basketball players are more likely than any other sports players to injure their ankles. The most common ankle injuries among basketball players are inversion (turning inward) and eversion (turning outward) of the ankle. The sharp twists, frequent running, constant jumping, and sudden stopping associated with basketball put tremendous pressure on a player's ankle joint. The two main ways that players and trainers try to treat and prevent these injuries are taping and bracing. Taping simply involves wrapping special tape snugly around the ankle joint. Although it is simple to apply, there are some drawbacks. Taping is not very expensive when used once, but when used throughout the season, taping is three times more costly than bracing. Taping also loosens with physical activity; after only ten minutes of exercise, the tape will become 50% looser. After one hour of exercise, taping offers no significant support whatsoever. Bracing has proven to be more effective than taping in a number of different studies. It is also much more cost effective throughout a season. Several types of ankle braces are available for use, ranging from cloth lace-on braces to more rigid plastic braces. Braces decrease the range of motion of the ankle more than taping does, and, therefore, help to prevent future ankle injuries. However, despite the benefits of ankle braces over ankle tape, many players find that braces restrict movement capabilities and also cause discomfort. What is the main idea of the passage?

Hangovers Veisalgia, more commonly known as a hangover, is the name for the range of unpleasant physical effects that occur following the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The most commonly experienced effects include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, headache, thirst, and lethargy. The degree of the hangover's severity is determined by factors occurring both before and after the alcohol is metabolized. The main pre-metabolic cause of veisalgia is the quantity of alcohol consumed. Binge drinking is one of the most notorious contributors to hangovers. Empirical research suggests that even an increase in consumption from four to six beers can result in twice the susceptibility to end up with a hangover. Another pre-consumption factor that contributes to hangovers is the number of congeners present in the alcohol. Congeners are chemical substances produced during the fermentation process that gives the alcohol color, taste, and aroma. Recent studies have shown that alcohol with a high congener content, such as bourbon (which is brown), is three times as likely to cause a hangover as the same amount of a low-congener alcohol, such as vodka (which is clear). Post-metabolic causes of veisalgia have less to do with the amount or kind of alcohol consumed and more to do with genetics. One of the major post-metabolic causes of veisalgia is the production of acetaldehyde. During the initial stages of metabolization, the liver produces an enzyme known as alcohol dehydrogenase. This enzyme works to convert the ethanol present in alcohol into the compound acetaldehyde. Studies have shown that individuals who lack this enzyme-and thus also lack the ability to break down ethanol in the liver-have a much higher rate of hangover occurrence, and experience more immediate and more severe hangover symptoms. Question: What is the meaning of the word excessive in the first paragraph?

Running vs. Walking Running is one of the best ways to get exercise. You do not need to join a gym or buy expensive equipment to go for a run. But you might be surprised to learn that walking can be just as good for you as running. In fact, going for a walk might be even better for you than going for a run. Running can help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk for heart disease. However, recent research by the American Heart Association shows that walking is just as good for your heart as running. A brisk walk can lower the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol just as much as running does. The only catch? You have to walk twice as long as you would run. In order to get the benefits of a 15-minute run, you need to walk for 30 minutes. Walking is just as good as running when it comes to cardiac health, but there are other ways in which walking can actually be better for you than running. Running can be tough on your body, especially your joints. In fact, a recent study published by the American College of Sports Medicine shows that as many as 40 to 50 percent of runners suffer a running-related injury every year. Walking does have some advantages over running. However, one thing is for sure: either one is better for you than sitting on a couch! Question: What is the author's main purpose in writing this passage?

Preventing Heart Disease Heart disease is a life-threatening condition that kills millions of people every year. In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of human beings worldwide; over thirty percent of deaths every year are due to some form of cardiovascular disease. Although there are many different types of medications and surgical procedures that can treat heart disease, prevention is the most important factor in reducing the number of deaths. Proper nutrition is important in preventing heart disease. The recommended diet for a healthy heart is low in saturated fats, cholesterol, salt, and refined sugar. The diet should be high in fiber, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided. Smoking increases the risk for heart disease at least ten-fold, and drinking too much alcohol can raise the levels of some fats in the blood and lead to high blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular damage. Lack of physical exercise can also make a person more likely to suffer from heart disease. Participating regularly in aerobic exercise, which can include walking, jogging, dancing, or swimming, significantly reduces the risk of heart disease. Another contributor to heart disease is stress. Constant stress can expose your body to persistently elevated levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. High levels of these hormones can increase blood pressure and damage artery walls. Engaging in yoga, meditation, or other relaxation techniques can be helpful in reducing stress and lowering the risk for heart disease. Question: Why does the author begin the passage with statistics regarding heart disease, such as "over thirty percent of deaths every year" ?

Running vs. Walking Running is one of the best ways to get exercise. You do not need to join a gym or buy expensive equipment to go for a run. But you might be surprised to learn that walking can be just as good for you as running. In fact, going for a walk might be even better for you than going for a run. Running can help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk for heart disease. However, recent research by the American Heart Association shows that walking is just as good for your heart as running. A brisk walk can lower the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol just as much as running does. The only catch? You have to walk twice as long as you would run. In order to get the benefits of a 15-minute run, you need to walk for 30 minutes. Walking is just as good as running when it comes to cardiac health, but there are other ways in which walking can actually be better for you than running. Running can be tough on your body, especially your joints. In fact, a recent study published by the American College of Sports Medicine shows that as many as 40 to 50 percent of runners suffer a running-related injury every year. Walking does have some advantages over running. However, one thing is for sure: either one is better for you than sitting on a couch! Question: What can be inferred about running as a form of exercise?

Glowing in the Dark Have you ever wondered how glow-in-the-dark things actually glow in the dark? Most glow-in-the-dark items glow because of something called phosphorescence or photoluminescence. Phosphorescent items must be "charged" under a bright light before they actually glow in the dark. This charging process works because of a substance called phosphor. When light from the sun or a lamp hits phosphor, the phosphor molecules absorb the light and become energized. As the phosphor molecules release the stored energy, they emit a dim light that is visible in the dark. The color of the light that they produce depends on the color of the dye added to the glow-in-the-dark item. Usually, green dye is added to the phosphors to make the light easier to see. Although any color can be used, the human eye sees green light most clearly in the dark. There are also a few glow-in-the-dark items that do not need to be charged. Emergency exit signs, gun sights, and certain kinds of expensive wristwatches glow because of radioluminescence. In these items, the phosphor is mixed with a radioactive element called tritium. The radiation from the tritium provides energy to the phosphor. It is almost as if there are thousands of tiny lamps constantly shining on the phosphor. Because their phosphor is always energized, these radioluminescent items are always glowing. One other kind of glow-in-the-dark item that does not require charging is the glow stick. Glow sticks do not need to be held under light and do not contain any radioactive elements. Instead, glow sticks glow using chemiluminescence. Glow sticks contain a fluorescent dye and a thin glass tube that contains a chemical. To activate a glow stick, you bend the plastic container, causing the glass to break. The chemical inside the glass then mixes with the dye. The combination of the chemical and the dye produces visible light. Question: Why does the author mention "thousands of tiny lamps" in paragraph three?

Diabetes There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Both types of diabetes can cause a variety of serious health risks if left untreated. Some of these health problems include kidney disease, blindness, heart disease, and strokes. About 5-10% of people with diabetes have Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes most commonly develops in young people. In Type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin. Without insulin, the body's cells cannot absorb glucose, and thus cannot produce energy. Symptoms appear after about 90% of the cells have been destroyed. Although most cases of Type 1 diabetes are genetic, some have arisen in people who have had viral infections of the pancreas. Most people who have diabetes (90-95%) have type 2 diabetes, which most commonly develops in people over age 40. Type 2 diabetes results from the inability of tissues to respond to insulin-a condition called insulin resistance. As Type 2 diabetes progresses, the pancreas produces less and less insulin, resulting in a condition called insulin deficiency. There is no cure for either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. However, there are ways to manage both types. For Type 1 diabetes, treatment requires receiving regular insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes can also be treated with insulin injections, but can be also be managed with lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, exercise, and reducing intake of carbohydrates. Which information is not included in the text regarding Type 1 diabetes?

The Liver The liver is one of the largest and most vital organs in the body. It is located on the right side of the body and is protected by the rib cage. The liver performs many important jobs, including breaking down nutrients, removing toxins, and destroying damaged blood cells. The liver's main function is to filter blood. Blood travels to the liver from the digestive tract. The liver processes this blood, removing toxins and metabolizing nutrients. The liver also secretes bile during this process. Bile is stored in the gallbladder and released into the large intestine. Bile aids in the digestion of fats. The liver also makes proteins necessary for blood clotting, removes worn-out blood cells, helps to regulate blood sugar levels, and stores vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12. There are several diseases that can affect the liver. Because the liver performs so many important functions in the body, liver problems can be life-threatening. Hepatitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the liver. Left untreated, certain types of hepatitis can be fatal. Cirrhosis is another dangerous liver condition. Cirrhosis develops when healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue. This is most often caused by long-term alcohol abuse. Cirrhosis can cause swelling, internal bleeding, and eventually, liver failure. The only cure for cirrhosis is a full liver transplant. What is the meaning of the word 'regulate' in the last sentence in paragraph 2?

The Spread of Yellow Fever Yellow fever is a dangerous disease that is primarily found in tropical climates. Sometimes, people infected with yellow fever suffer only mild flu-like symptoms. In other cases, however, yellow fever can be much more serious, causing kidney problems, liver failure, and sometimes, even death. For many years, people believed that the disease was spread from person to person, much like the cold or flu. However, this was not the case. It took the dedicated research of a doctor named Carlos Juan Finlay to show people how to prevent a disease that was killing people by the thousands. In the 1800's, yellow fever was a serious threat to Cuba's population. Because people believed that the disease was spread from person to person, they tried to prevent the spread of the disease by quarantining people. However, this did not help. Dr) Finlay had a different hypothesis. He noticed the worst outbreaks of yellow fever happened when mosquitoes were most active. This led him to theorize that mosquitoes spread the disease, not people. This was a revolutionary idea; no one had considered the possibility of mosquitoes being vectors of disease. In fact, the idea was so revolutionary that no one believed Finlay for over 20 years. Eventually, Finlay's theory was proven. A team of military doctors led by Dr. Walter Reed conducted a series of experiments that proved once and for all that mosquitoes were indeed responsible for spreading yellow fever. Armed with this information, people took new measures to protect themselves from yellow fever. As a result of this discovery, yellow fever has almost completely disappeared from Cuba and many other nations. What is the meaning of the word 'quarantining' in paragraph 2?

Vaping Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are electronic devices that provide users with the same nicotine "fix" that they would receive from a traditional cigarette. However, e-cigarettes do not burn tobacco, and thus do not produce the same toxic chemicals as traditional cigarettes. For this reason, many believe that using e-cigarettes (also known as "vaping") is a safe alternative to smoking tobacco. This perception has turned vaping into a billion-dollar industry and has made vaping extremely popular, especially among adolescents. However, even though e-cigarettes do not produce tobacco smoke, they are still not completely safe. E-cigarette vapor contains a variety of toxic chemicals, including formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Although they are harmless in small amounts, there have not been any studies of the dangers of long-term exposure to these chemicals. Furthermore, the nicotine in e-cigarettes is just as addictive as the nicotine in traditional cigarettes. Withdrawal symptoms from nicotine deprivation include mood swings, anxiety, and changes in appetite. Exposure to nicotine can also be dangerous for people with cardiovascular problems. While vaping may be better for you than smoking traditional cigarettes, more research needs to be done before e-cigarettes can be considered completely safe. People-especially adolescents-should be wary of getting hooked on these "harmless" cigarettes. Question: What is the meaning of the word 'deprivation' in paragraph 2?

Light Pollution I grew up in the city, a place so full of streetlights, spotlights, and searchlights that the sky was never dark enough to see the Milky Way. But last year, I went on a camping trip through the Grand Canyon. When I saw the night sky for the first time, I was in awe. I could not believe how many stars there were. As cities push farther and farther into the wilderness, they create light pollution, the brightening of the night sky by artificial light sources. Light pollution not only hinders our ability to see the beauty of the stars, but it might be causing other problems as well. Light pollution also disrupts the lives of certain animals. For example, too much artificial light can prevent newly-hatched sea turtles from finding the ocean. Owls and other birds that hunt at night can injure themselves by flying into brightly lit buildings. So what is the solution? Obviously, we cannot turn off all of the lights every night. But we can reduce the amount of light we send into the sky. Homeowners should use motion sensors on outdoor lights. Cities should turn off (or at least dim) streetlights after midnight. Businesses and office buildings should turn off their lights when they close for the day. Turning off the lights will help animals and restore the night sky to its former glory. Question: What is the author's purpose for writing this passage?

Garlic Breath Anyone who has ever had a delicious piece of garlic bread knows that there is a price to pay for eating it: the dreaded garlic breath. What makes garlic so good at making your breath smell so bad? The main culprit is a compound called allyl methyl sulfide. As your body digests the garlic, the sulfide is released into your bloodstream. From there, it travels through your body until it is eliminated through your digestive system, your urine, or out of your pores. However, some of the allyl methyl sulfide also crosses from the bloodstream into the air that fills your lungs. As you breathe this air out, the garlic smell goes with it. This is why no matter how many pieces of gum you chew, how often you brush your teeth, or how much mouthwash you swish, a garlicky meal can give you stinky breath for days. Recent research shows that the best way to combat the effects of garlic on your breath is to eat a raw apple or some raw mint leaves while you consume garlic. Both apples and mint leaves contain polyphenolic compounds that can neutralize the allyl methyl sulfides in garlic. Question: What is the meaning of the word 'swish' at the end of paragraph 2?

Antibiotic Resistance Antibiotic resistance occurs when micro-organisms develop means of survival despite exposure to antibiotics. The development of antibiotic resistance can be traced to two main areas of antibiotic misuse: over-prescription by doctors and unnecessary introduction into animal feed by farmers. The overuse of antibiotics by both doctors and farmers has increased antibiotic resistance by inadvertently fostering natural selection for resistance in colonies of bacteria. Bacteria that naturally carry antibiotic-resistant genes survive contact with the antibiotics. These resistant bacteria then reproduce, transferring their resistant genes to future generations of bacteria. Over time, this process yields a colony of bacteria that is fully resistant to antibiotics. Some bacteria even develop a variety of resistance genes; these bacteria are colloquially known as "super bugs" because of their ability to resist the majority of antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria responsible for what is commonly known as a "Staph infection," is one of the most resistant pathogens. It is estimated that half of all Staph infections in the United States are resistant to penicillin, methicillin, tetracycline, and erythromycin-the four most common drugs used to treat such infections. The ever-increasing strength and population of these "super bugs" may pose a serious threat to human health in the near future. The problem of antibiotic resistance has no easy solution. More funding should be available to scientists working toward the research and development of new antibiotics that will fight resistant bacteria. There are also steps that laypeople should take to help prevent further development of resistant bacteria. Individuals with viral infections should not demand antibiotics from their doctors. Consumers should also put pressure on meat manufacturers to stop adding unnecessary antibiotics into animals' diets. Finally, citizens should petition the government to increase funding for scientific research done to combat the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. Question: According to the text, what must happen for a colony of bacteria to become fully resistant to antibiotics?

The Liver The liver is one of the largest and most vital organs in the body. It is located on the right side of the body and is protected by the rib cage. The liver performs many important jobs, including breaking down nutrients, removing toxins, and destroying damaged blood cells. The liver's main function is to filter blood. Blood travels to the liver from the digestive tract. The liver processes this blood, removing toxins and metabolizing nutrients. The liver also secretes bile during this process. Bile is stored in the gallbladder and released into the large intestine. Bile aids in the digestion of fats. The liver also makes proteins necessary for blood clotting, removes worn-out blood cells, helps to regulate blood sugar levels, and stores vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12. There are several diseases that can affect the liver. Because the liver performs so many important functions in the body, liver problems can be life-threatening. Hepatitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the liver. Left untreated, certain types of hepatitis can be fatal. Cirrhosis is another dangerous liver condition. Cirrhosis develops when healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue. This is most often caused by long-term alcohol abuse. Cirrhosis can cause swelling, internal bleeding, and eventually, liver failure. The only cure for cirrhosis is a full liver transplant. What is the primary purpose of this passage?