Extract:
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Lately, there has been a lot of discussion—within the medical community as well as across the kitchen table—about the supposed harmful effects that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has on the human body. Many people wonder if its use as a sweetener is contributing to the population’s overall rate of obesity.
In the late 1970s, many of the largest food manufacturers in the United States shifted away from using refined table sugar to using the much cheaper HFCS. Soon HFCS was used to sweeten many products including cereal, steak sauce, soft drinks, bread, baked beans, and yogurt.
Table sugar and HFCS share a similar biochemical structure: both contain the simple sugars glucose and fructose, though HFCS is produced from corn and undergoes additional processing to increase the amount of fructose.
The American Medical Association does not take the view that one sweetener is better or worse than another. However, researchers at Princeton University have recently released a study showing that rats who consumed HFCS gained more weight, especially in the abdominal area, than rats who consumed table sugar.
Other medical professionals say that more research is needed before conclusive results can be drawn. Meanwhile, nearly everyone can agree that both table sugar and HFCS are high in calories—nearly 50 per tablespoon—and that neither form of sweetener provides any measurable nutritional value.
What is the main idea of the passage?
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A
The American Medical Association has identified preferred sweeteners.
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B
High fructose corn syrup may be contributing to obesity in America.
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C
Refined table sugar is a natural product, whereas corn syrup is manufactured.
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D
Rats show a decided preference for high fructose corn syrup over other sweeteners.
The main idea of the passage is that high fructose corn syrup may be contributing to obesity in America, as evidenced by ongoing medical discussions and research suggesting potential harmful metabolic effects.
A) The American Medical Association has identified preferred sweeteners
This option directly contradicts the passage, which explicitly states the AMA "does not take the view that one sweetener is better or worse than another." The AMA maintains neutrality rather than endorsing specific sweeteners, making this option factually incorrect.
B) High fructose corn syrup may be contributing to obesity in America
The passage opens by framing HFCS within "discussions about the supposed harmful effects" specifically questioning "if its use as a sweetener is contributing to the population's overall rate of obesity." The Princeton rat study showing abdominal weight gain from HFCS consumption provides scientific support for this concern, establishing obesity contribution as the central thematic thread.
C) Refined table sugar is a natural product, whereas corn syrup is manufactured
While the passage mentions HFCS undergoes "additional processing," it never characterizes table sugar as inherently "natural" or presents manufacturing as the primary focus. Both sweeteners share similar biochemical structures, and the passage emphasizes health effects rather than production methods.
D) Rats show a decided preference for high fructose corn syrup over other sweeteners
The Princeton study measured weight gain outcomes, not preference or consumption choices. The passage never states rats preferred HFCS—only that those consuming it gained more weight, particularly in the abdominal area.
Conclusion
The passage centers on the obesity hypothesis surrounding HFCS—opening with public and medical concern about its metabolic effects, presenting preliminary research evidence, while acknowledging scientific uncertainty requiring further study. Unlike AMA positions, production methods, or animal preferences, the obesity connection forms the unifying theme across all paragraphs.