Question 15

Vaping is more harmful to young people than to adults.

The passage highlights the unique health risks that vaping poses to young people, noting that their developing brains are particularly affected by nicotine. This suggests that the harm associated with vaping is greater for this age group compared to adults.

A) vaping is more harmful to young people than to adults.

This statement is supported by the text, which emphasizes the specific health concerns for young users due to their developing brains. The passage mentions how nicotine alters synapse formation, impacting attention, learning, and impulse control, indicating a higher level of vulnerability among younger individuals.

B) vaping is not a problem for young people in middle school.

This option is incorrect as the passage explicitly states that 1 in 30 middle school students reported using vape products in the last 30 days. This statistic underscores that vaping is indeed a significant issue among middle school students, contradicting the claim that it is not a problem.

C) vaping may be more dangerous than cigarette smoking.

While the passage discusses the dangers of vaping, it does not establish that vaping is more dangerous than cigarette smoking. It mentions that vaping is "less dangerous" than cigarettes but doesn't provide evidence to claim it is more dangerous, making this option misleading.

D) vaping causes mental health illnesses.

This statement is partially correct in that the passage discusses the potential link between nicotine addiction and mood disorders. However, it does not definitively state that vaping causes mental health illnesses; rather, it suggests that nicotine can lead to mood disorders, which makes this option less accurate than A.

Conclusion

The evidence presented in the passage clearly supports the assertion that vaping is more harmful to young people than adults due to the developmental vulnerabilities of their brains. Other options either misinterpret the information or fail to accurately reflect the concerns outlined in the text, reinforcing that A is the most appropriate conclusion based on the provided context.